Main Battle Tank
Hyundai Rotem K1A2
The Hyundai Rotem K1A2 is the latest standard of the K1 main battle tank family built in South Korea, in service since the K1 entered Korean Army use in 1985. It carries a 120 mm gun and a crew of four.
South Korea|Hyundai RotemOverview
The K1 was designed from the 1970s with US help, drawing on the M1 Abrams, and entered service in 1985 with a 105 mm gun. The K1A1 added a 120 mm KM256 smoothbore gun with an L/44 barrel built by Poongsan in 1999. The K1A2 upgrade, from about 2014, brings improved modular armour, hydropneumatic suspension, digital fire control, a battlefield management system, a new engine and transmission and a commander’s panoramic sight. It weighs about 54.5 t and has a crew of four with a manual loader.
The K1A2 uses an MTU-type diesel of about 1,200 hp, reaching about 65 km/h with a range near 450 km. About 1,500 K1 and K1A1 tanks were delivered by the mid-2000s, and the K1A2 upgrade reportedly covers around 500 conversions, with 1,000 or more K1A1 and K1A2 in service. The K1 has never been exported, and an earlier K1A2 price was about 5 million USD (hedged). Hyundai Rotem’s K2 Black Panther is the country’s export flagship.
Key Specifications
Variants
The K1 is the original 1985 tank with a 105 mm gun, built with US design assistance.
The K1A1 is the 1999 upgrade fitted with a 120 mm smoothbore gun.
The K1A2 is the modernised standard with improved armour, suspension, digital fire control and a commander’s panoramic sight.
Operators
South KoreaFrequently Asked Questions
How much does a K1A2 tank cost?
A K1A2 tank cost about 5 million USD in earlier contracts (hedged). The figure is for upgrades and varies with scope. Modern conversion costs depend on the scope of the upgrade package.
K1A2 vs K2 Black Panther: what is the difference?
The K1A2 is an upgraded older tank of about 54.5 t with a manual loader and crew of four, while the K2 Black Panther is a newer design built for export. The K2 will supplement the K1A2 in Korean service.
What gun does the K1A2 have?
The Hyundai Rotem K1A2 has a 120 mm KM256 smoothbore gun with an L/44 barrel built by Poongsan. It fires APFSDS and HEAT multi-purpose rounds.
How many K1A2 tanks does South Korea have?
South Korea has roughly 500 K1A2 conversions reported, within a combined K1A1 and K1A2 fleet of about 1,000 or more tanks. About 1,500 K1 and K1A1 were delivered by the mid-2000s.
Which countries use the K1A2?
Only South Korea operates the K1A2. The K1 family has never been exported, although K1A2 sales were proposed to countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia.
Is Türkiye’s Altay based on the K1A2?
No. Türkiye’s Altay uses technology derived from the K2 Black Panther under a Hyundai Rotem licence, not the K1A2. Türkiye does not operate the K1.