This is a list of equipment currently in service in the Republic of Korea Army.
Model | Manufacturer | Image | Origin | Type | Caliber | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Handguns | ||||||
K5 | Daewoo Precision Industries | South Korea | Pistol | 9×19mm NATO | Standard-issue sidearm | |
Jericho 941FL | Israel Weapon Industries | Israel | Pistol | 9×19mm NATO | Used by the Army Military Police Special Duty Team Being replaced by K5 | |
Beretta 92 | Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta | Italy | Pistol | 9×19mm NATO | Beretta 92SB and 92F Used by UNPKO troops in Lebanon, and special operations | |
S&W Model 10 | Smith & Wesson | United States | Revolver | .38 Special | 2-inch snub-nosed versions are given to high-ranking officers Also used by the Army Military Police Special Duty Team | |
M1911A1 | Colt Manufacturing Company | United States | Pistol | .45 ACP | Mostly replaced by K5, limited usage | |
Submachine guns | ||||||
K7 | Daewoo Precision Industries | South Korea | Silenced submachine gun | 9×19mm NATO | Used by special forces | |
H&K MP5 | Heckler & Koch | Germany | Submachine gun | 9×19mm NATO | MP5A5, MP5SD6, MP5K models Used by the 707th Special Mission Group | |
IWI X95 9mm SMG | Israel Weapon Industries | Israel | Submachine gun | 9×19mm NATO | Adopted as an anti-terror submachine gun in 2023 Used by the ROK Special Warfare Command | |
PPSh-41 | — | Soviet Union | Submachine gun | 7.62×25mm Tokarev | Used for "aggressor" training and secret agent training | |
Assault rifles, carbines & battle rifles | ||||||
K1A | Daewoo Precision Industries | South Korea | Carbine | 5.56×45mm NATO | Standard-issue carabine; will be partially replaced by the K13 | |
K2 | Daewoo Precision Industries | South Korea | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | Standard-issue assault rifle; being partially replaced by the K2C1 | |
K2C1 | SNT Motiv | South Korea | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | Currently Standard-issue assault rifle | |
K13 | SNT Motiv | South Korea | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | Designation for STC16 carbine; to partially replace the K1A | |
FN SCAR-L | FN Herstal | Belgium | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | Used by the 707th Special Mission Group | |
KAC SR-16 | Knight's Armament Company | United States | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | Adopted in 2022. Used by the 707th Special Mission Group. | |
M16A1 | Daewoo Precision Industries | United States | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | Also 600,000 were produced under license Used by reserve forces, and used in the 39th infantry division. | |
M4 Carbine | Colt's Manufacturing Company | United States | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | used by ROK Army SWC and 707 | |
AK-74 | — | Soviet Union Russia | Assault rifle | 5.45×39mm | Used for "aggressor" training and secret agent training | |
AK-47 | — | Soviet Union | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Used for "aggressor" training and secret agent training | |
Type 58 | Factory 61/65 | North Korea | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Used for "aggressor" training and secret agent training | |
Precision rifles | ||||||
K14 | SNT Motiv | South Korea | Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | Standard-issue sniper rifle | |
SSG 69 | Steyr Arms | Austria | Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | Used by special forces Being replaced by K14 | |
AWSM | Accuracy International | United Kingdom | Sniper rifle | .338 Lapua Magnum | Used by the 707th Special Mission Group | |
Machine guns | ||||||
K3 | Daewoo Precision Industries | South Korea | Light machine gun | 5.56×45mm NATO | Standard-issue squad automatic weapon; will be replaced by the K15 | |
K16 | SNT Motiv | South Korea | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm NATO | Planned to replace the M60 machine gun | |
M60 | Daewoo Precision Industries | United States South Korea | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm NATO | M60, M60D and M60E2 Produced under license; being replaced by the K16 | |
K6 machine gun | SNT Dynamics | South Korea | Heavy machine gun | 12.7×99mm NATO | Browning M2HB with additional modification. K6 and M2 parts are not interchangeable. | |
Battle Rifles | ||||||
M1 Garand | — | United States | Battle rifle | .30-06 Springfield | For ceremonial use | |
M14 rifle | — | United States | Battle rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | For ceremonial use | |
Grenades and grenade launchers | ||||||
K4 | Daewoo Precision Industries | South Korea | Automatic grenade launcher | 40×53mm HV | Standard-issue automatic grenade launcher | |
K201 | Daewoo Precision Industries | South Korea | Grenade launcher | 40×46mm LV | Standard-issue under-barrel grenade launcher; fitted on K2 rifles | |
M203 | — | United States | Grenade launcher | 40×46mm LV | Being replaced by the K201 | |
K400 | Hanwha | — | South Korea | Hand grenade | 60mm [1] | Former (1975~1994) standard issue hand grenade [2] 450 g [1] K401 practice grenade with similar shape and weight as the K400. |
K413 | Hanwha | — | South Korea | Hand grenade | 55mm [1] | Standard issue hand grenade (1994~) [2] 260 g [1] K479 practice grenade with similar shape and weight as the K413. [3] |
Unguided anti-tank weapons and anti-structure | ||||||
M72 LAW | — | United States Norway | Disposable, | 72 mm | Now on reserve army not in FEBA area | |
KM67 | Hyundai WIA | United States South Korea | Man-portable recoilless rifle | 90 mm | Produced under license by Hyundai WIA [4] | |
KM40A2 | Hyundai WIA | United States South Korea | Recoilless rifle | 106 mm | Produced under license by Hyundai WIA [4] | |
Panzerfaust 3 | Poongsan Corporation | Germany South Korea | Reusable | 110 mm | Produced under license by Poongsan [5] | |
Guided anti-tank weapons | ||||||
9K115 Metis-M | Tula Machinery Design Bureau (Tula KBP) – Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod | Russia | Man-portable | 94 mm | Given by Russia as a partial payment of debts incurred during the Soviet era; SACLOS sighting device and 12,000 missiles were domestically produced by LG Corporation. [6] 226 fire units received | |
Hyungung AT-1K Raybolt | LIG Nex1 | South Korea | Man-portable SACLOS missile | 150 mm | [7] | |
BGM-71 TOW | Hughes Aircraft Company | United States | Wire guided ATGM | 152 mm | Fire unit resuable, tube disposable | |
TAIpers | LIG Nex1 | — | South Korea | SACLOS missile | — | Successor of the BGM-71 TOW from 2024, to equip LAH attack helicopters [3] |
Accessory | ||||||
CornerShot | Corner Shot Holdings | Israel | Pistol corner shooter adapter | — | Used by special forces |
*The list includes equipment used by both the ROK Army and ROK Marine Corps.
The ROK Army operates 2,900 tanks as of 2018 [update] . [8]
Vehicle | Image | Origin | Type | In service | Manufacturer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
K1/K1E1 | South Korea | Main battle tank | 1,027 | Hyundai Rotem | Produced from 1985 to 1998. All K1 are being upgraded to the K1E1 standard (equivalent to K1A2), completion expected in 2026. [9] A further upgrade to the standard K1E2 is expected to take place from 2024. | |
K1A2 | South Korea | Main battle tank | 484 | Hyundai Rotem | Produced from 1999 to 2010. All K1A1s will be upgraded to the K1A2 model. Upgrades are expected to be completed by 2022. [9] | |
K2 Black Panther | South Korea | Main battle tank | 260 (150 on order) | Hyundai Rotem | Produced from 2013. Initial mass production has been under way since the end of 2013.
| |
M48 M48A5, M48A5K1, M48A5K2 | United States South Korea | Main battle tank | M48A5: 275 M48A5K1: 195 M48A5K2: 210 | Chrysler or Ford Motor Company | Produced from around 1952 to 1959. Equipped for reserve infantry divisions. [22] ROKA received 275 ex-USFK M48A5s; 195 M48A5K1s upgraded from M48A2Cs; 210 M48A5K2s upgraded from M48A1s. Main gun replaced with the KM68 105 mm gun. Additional side skirts were provided, and the fire control system was upgraded to the Laser Tank Fire Control System (LTFCS). Will be replaced by K1 & K2 | |
T-62 "Tiran-6" | Soviet Union Israel | Main battle tank | 17 | — | Used for "aggressor" training. Their presence was considered classified but released to the public after the army's invitation events. [23] [24] | |
T-72M1 | Soviet Union | Main battle tank | 5 [25] 3 [25] | Uralvagonzavod | Used for "aggressor" training. Their presence was considered classified but released to the public after the army's invitation events. [23] [24] | |
T-80U T-80UK | Soviet Union Russia | Main battle tank | 33 T-80U 2 T-80UK | Omsktransmash | T-80U delivered between 1995 and 1997. 2 T-80UK delivered in 2005. These tanks were transferred as a partial payment of debts incurred during the Soviet era. |
The ROK Army operates 2,700 armored vehicles as of 2014 [update] (this figure does not include wheeled armored personnel carriers). [8]
Vehicle | Image | Origin | Type | In service | Manufacturer/Produced | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
K200/A1 | South Korea | Armored personnel carrier | 1,700 [26] | Doosan/(1985~) | Excludes non-armored personnel carrier variant K200 platforms | |
K21 | South Korea | Infantry fighting vehicle | More than 466~ (As of 2018 [update] ) [27] | Doosan/(2009–present) | Additional 120 K21s will be introduced by 2027. | |
BMP-3 | Soviet Union Russia | Infantry fighting vehicle | 33 BMP-3F 37 BMP-3M | Kurganmashzavod | Given by Russia in 1996 as a partial payment of debts incurred during the Soviet era | |
M113 M113K1 | United States | Armored personnel carrier | All phased out [28] | FMC Corporation | Up to 400 in reserve/storage [28] | |
Variants of the K200 Armored Personnel Carrier | ||||||
K216 K221 K255 K277 | South Korea | NBC reconnaissance vehicle Smoke generating vehicle Ammunition resupply vehicle Command post vehicle | ≈800 [26] | Doosan/Late 1980s~ |
Vehicle | Image | Origin | Type | In service | Manufacturer/Produced | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
K806 White Tiger | South Korea | 6×6 wheeled armored personnel carrier | 100 | Hyundai Rotem/2016 ~ | Evolution of the KW1 Scorpion. [29] | |
K808 White Tiger | South Korea | 8×8 wheeled armored personnel carrier | 500 | Hyundai Rotem/2016 ~ | The ROK Army has selected Hyundai Rotem over the Samsung Techwin and Doosan DST consortium as the preferred bidder for 600 wheeled armored vehicles. To enter service between 2017 and 2023 [29] | |
8×8 command post vehicles (CPVs) | 27 (As of 2023) [30] | Hyundai Rotem/2023 ~ | 600 ordered in 2023, to be delivered between 2023 until 2029 [30] | |||
KM900 / 901 (Fiat 6614) | South Korea Italy | 4×4 wheeled armored personnel carrier | All phased out [31] | Asia Motors/1977~1985 | Produced 482 KM900/901 wheeled APCs under license. [26] Some in reserve/storage | |
Barracuda (TM-170) | South Korea West Germany | 4×4 wheeled armored personnel carrier | 10 | Doosan DST | Being used by United Nations peacekeepers | |
MaxxPro | United States | 4×4 MRAP | 10 | International Truck | Used by the Korean special forces in Afghanistan [32] | |
K151 Raycolt | South Korea | 4×4 armored car | 10000~ | Kia Motors |
Vehicle | Image | Origin | Type | In service | Manufacturer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
K1 AVLB | South Korea | Armored vehicle launched bridge | 70 | Hyundai Mobis | Based on the MBT K1 chassis | |
K1 ARV | South Korea | Armored recovery vehicle | 150 | Hyundai Mobis | Based on the MBT K1 chassis. More in production [33] | |
K600 CEV | South Korea | Combat engineering vehicle | Hyundai Rotem | Based on the MBT K1 chassis [34] | ||
K288 | South Korea | Armored recovery vehicle | Doosan DST | Based on the APC K200 chassis | ||
K21 ARV | South Korea | Armored recovery vehicle | Doosan DST | Based on the IFV K21 chassis | ||
KM9 ACE | USA South Korea | Armored combat earthmover | 207 [35] | Samsung Techwin | These were made under licence in South Korea by Samsung Techwin. [35] | |
M3K Amphibious Rig | Germany South Korea | Amphibious bridging vehicle | Hanwha Aerospace | 110 ordered in 2021 delivered from 2024 to 2027 [36] Produced under license by Hanwha Aerospace | ||
Keiler | Germany | Mine clearing vehicle | 1 [37] | Rheinmetall Landsysteme | Based on a modified M48 chassis | |
Rhino | Germany | Mine clearing vehicle | 3 [37] | Rheinmetall Landsysteme | ||
Mine Breaker 2000 | Germany | Mine clearing vehicle | 1 [37] | Rheinmetall Landsysteme | ||
Aardvark Mk4 | United Kingdom | Mine clearing vehicle | 2 [37] | Aardvark Clear Mine Ltd. |
Vehicle [38] [39] | Origin | Type [38] [39] | Payload | Quantity | Manufacturer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Variants of the K131 | ||||||
K131 K132 K133 KM422 KM424 KM426 | South Korea | 4x4 utility vehicle Bulletproof utility vehicle NBC reconnaissance Tow missile launcher carrier 106mm recoilless rifle carrier 40 mm grenade launcher | 1⁄4 ton (off-road) | 7,866 [40] | Kia Motors | |
Variants of the K311 | ||||||
K311 K301 K312 K313 K314 K315 K316 K317 K318 K319 Box car | South Korea | 4x4 utility vehicle Combat food supply Ambulance Shop van Signals vehicle Secret code NBC reconnaissance Biological reconnaissance Smoke generating vehicle Bulletproof FDC, UAV, communication | 11⁄4 ton (off-road) | 13,170 [40] | Kia Motors | |
Variants of the K511 | ||||||
K511 K512 K513 K514 K515 K516 K517 K518 K519 K606 Box car | South Korea | 6x6 cargo truck Shop van Fuel tanker Fire direction center vehicle Water tanker secret code long bed Bulletproof cargo combat food supply hydraulic crane UAV, communication, PX | 21⁄2 ton (off-road) | 18,972 [40] | Kia Motors | |
Variants of the K711 | ||||||
K711 K712 K713 K714 K715 K716 K717 K718 K719 K720 K721 Box car | South Korea | 6x6 cargo truck Wrecker Dump truck K136 Kooryoung Tractor Expandable van Spare parts van Floating bridge Ribbon bridge Long bed cargo decontamination Radar, water filter, etc. | 5 ton (off-road) | 10,563 [40] | Kia Motors |
Vehicle | Image | Origin | Type | Payload | Quantity | Manufacturer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
K912 | South Korea | 8x8 wrecker | Kia Motors | KM1001 Wrecker for disposal of large & modernized equipment exceeding operating capacity of the KM502 (K711 variant) Wrecker | |||
K915 | South Korea | 8x8 tractor | 60 ~ 100 ton | Kia Motors | KM1002 Tractor for transportation of large-heavy equipment such as tanks and armored vehicles | ||
K917 | South Korea | 8x8 cargo truck | 15 ton | Kia Motors | |||
Hyundai Trago | South Korea | 6x4 tractor | 100 ton | Hyundai Motors | Military-equipped civilian vehicles | ||
HEMTT A4 | United States | MLRS resupply | 58 | Oshkosh Corp. | |||
Unimog | Germany | Snowplow vehicle | 34 [41] | Mercedes-Benz | |||
K532 K533 K534 | South Korea | Mortar carrier Electronic warfare Signals vehicle | ≈500 [42] | Kia Motors | The Hagglunds BV206 was built in Korea under license by Kia Motors. [42] |
The RoK Army operates 9,096 civil vehicles ranging from sedans to buses, forklifts, excavators, and graders. [40]
Equipment [43] | Image | Origin | Type [43] | Manufacturer [43] | Frequency [43] | Notes [43] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PRC-85K | South Korea | Walkie-talkie | LIG Nex1 (formerly LG Precision) | VHF/FM | Slowly being retired | |
PRC-96K | South Korea | Walkie-talkie | LIG Nex1 (formerly LG Precision) | VHF/FM | Standard-issue | |
PRC-77K | United States South Korea | Portable transceiver | LIG Nex1 (formerly LG Precision) | VHF/FM | Produced under license. Mainly used by the Republic of Korea Reserve Forces | |
PRC-999K | South Korea | Portable transceiver | LIG Nex1 (formerly LG Precision) | VHF/FM | Standard-issue | |
ARC-900K | South Korea | Aircraft transceiver | LIG Nex1 (formerly LG Precision) | VHF/FM | ||
KTA-312 | United States South Korea | Field telephone | corded | Produced under license; slowly being retired | ||
TA-512K | South Korea | Field telephone | corded | Standard-issue | ||
AN/PRC-950K | South Korea | Portable transceiver | Huneed | HF/AM | ||
AN/VRC-950K | South Korea | Vehicle transceiver | Huneed | HF/AM | ||
VRC-946K | South Korea | Vehicle transceiver (jeep) | Huneed | VHF/FM | ||
VRC-947K | South Korea | Vehicle transceiver (truck) | Huneed | VHF/FM | ||
VRC-949K | South Korea | Vehicle transceiver (tank) | Huneed | VHF/FM | ||
VRC-964K | South Korea | Vehicle transceiver (armored vehicle) | Huneed | VHF/FM | ||
KAN/GRC-512(V) | South Korea | Multi-channel radio | Huneed | UHF | ||
SPIDER | South Korea | 2nd generation tactical communication system [44] | Samsung Electronics | The SPIDER system can transmit only still images and voice data. [45] | ||
TICN | South Korea | 3rd generation tactical communication system [44] | Samsung Thales, LIG Nex1 and Huneed consortium [46] | |||
TMMR | South Korea | Tactical multiband multirole radio | LIG Nex1 (formerly LG Precision) | HF/VHF/UHF | ||
PRC-821K | South Korea | Tactical satellite (TACSAT) radio | Samsung Thales | Satellite | ||
TSC-791K | South Korea | Mobile and tactical military satellite communication system | LIG Nex1 (formerly LG Precision) | Satellite |
Model | Origin | Type | Manufacturer | Deployment | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low Altitude Surveillance Radars | ||||||
TPS-830K | South Korea | Mobile short range air search radar | LIG Nex1 (formerly LG Precision) | 1994~ [47] | 54 [48] | Use supports KM167A3 Vulcan, K263A1 Chungung and Oerlikon GDF |
FPS-303K | South Korea | Medium range air search radar | LIG Nex1 (formerly LG Precision) | 2014~16 [49] | 3D AESA radar connected to early warning and command & control systems, which enhances the ability to detect and track targets at low altitudes [49] | |
High Altitude Surveillance Radars | ||||||
TPS-880K | South Korea | Local air defense radar | LIG Nex1 (formerly LG Precision) | 2018~ [50] | 3D AESA radar that performs high and low-altitude surveillance and detects unmanned aerial vehicles and combat aircraft [50] | |
Artillery/Rocket-Locating Radars | ||||||
TPQ-74K | South Korea | Counter-battery radar | LIG Nex1 (formerly LG Precision) | 2018~ [51] | The new TPQ-74K has 30~40% greater detection radius and continuous operating time than the existing Korean-licensed Swedish ARTHUR-K radar systems. Arthur-K has effective detection range of 40 km, while the new system has range of over 60 km. It can also operate continuously for eight hours, compared to Arthur-K's 6 hours. Merely two radars will allow undisturbed operation for 365 days. [52] | |
AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder | United States | Counter-battery radar | Raytheon | 1996 [51] | 10 [51] | |
AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder | United States | Counter-battery radar | Raytheon | 1996 [51] | 5 [51] | |
Saab ARTHUR-K | South Korea | Counter-battery radar | LIG Nex1 (formerly LG Precision) | 2009~ [51] | 8 [51] | The ARTHUR-K was built in Korea under license by LIG Nex1. [53] |
Model | Origin | Type | Manufacturer | Deployment | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
KM-20 [54] | South Korea | 8x30 military binocular | EO system (formerly Korea Optech) | 1995 [54] | Standard-issue |
PVS-98K [54] | South Korea | Day and night sight | EO system (formerly Korea Optech) | 1998 [54] | Standard-issue |
PVS-01K [54] | South Korea | Thermal weapon sight | EO system (formerly Korea Optech) | 2001 [54] | Standard-issue |
PVS-02K [54] | South Korea | Night weapon sight | EO system (formerly Korea Optech) | 2002 [54] | Standard-issue |
PVS-04K [54] | South Korea | Night monocular scope | EO system (formerly Korea Optech) | 2004 [54] | Standard-issue |
PVS-05K [54] | South Korea | Day and night sight | EO system (formerly Korea Optech) | 2005 [54] | Standard-issue |
PVS-11K | South Korea | Day and night sight | EO system (formerly Korea Optech) | 2011 | Standard-issue |
DCL-120 | South Korea | Dot sight | Dong In optical | Limited issue | |
TAS-970K [55] | South Korea | Thermal observation device | Samsung thales | 1997 [55] | Standard-issue |
TAS-815K [55] | South Korea | Thermal observation device | Samsung thales | 2011 [55] | Standard-issue |
The ROK Army operates 5,800 artillery pieces and MRLs as of 2014 [update] . (This figure does not include mortars) [8]
Mortars | Origin | Type | In service | Manufacturer/Produced | Range | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M-19 | United States | 60 mm mortar | 1,800 m | Kept in reserve/storage | ||
KM-19 | United States South Korea | 60 mm mortar | Kia Machine Tool (now Hyundai WIA)/1970s | 1,800 m | Made under license | |
K-181 | South Korea | 60 mm mortar | 2,100 [56] | Kia Machine Tool (now Hyundai WIA)/since 1985 | 3,590 m | |
M29 | United States | 81 mm mortar | 4,600 m | Kept in reserve/storage | ||
KM29A1 | United States South Korea | 81 mm mortar | Kia Machine Tool (now Hyundai WIA)/1970s | 4,600 m | Made under license | |
KM-187 | South Korea | 81 mm mortar | Kia Machine Tool (now Hyundai WIA)/since 1996 | 6,300 m | ||
KMS114 [57] | South Korea | 81 mm mortar | Kia Machine Tool (now Hyundai WIA)/since 2021 | 6,300 m | ||
KM30 | United States South Korea | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 1,840 [58] | Kia Machine Tool (now Hyundai WIA)/since 1980 | 5,650 m | Made under license. Will be replaced by the 120 mm mortar [59] |
XKM-120 [60] | South Korea | 120 mm mortar | Kia Machine Tool (now Hyundai WIA) | 8,000 m | 120 mm self-propelled mortar system that features a computerised fire control system (FCS) and a semi-automatic loading system |
Howitzer | Type | In service | Manufacturer/Produced | Range | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
M2/M2A1/M3/M101 KM101A1 | 105mm towed howitzer | 1,988 [61] | Rock Island Arsenal/(1941~1953) Kia Machine Tool (now Hyundai WIA)/(1970s) | HE 11.3 km | Up to 1,000 more in reserve/storage [61] Made under license |
M114 | 155mm towed howitzer | 988 [61] | Rock Island Arsenal/(1941~1953) | HE 14.6 km [62] RAP 19 km [62] | Mainly used by the Republic of Korea Reserve Forces |
KH179 | 155mm towed howitzer | ≈860 [61] | Kia Machine Tool (now Hyundai WIA)/(since 1983) | HE 22 km [62] RAP 30 km [62] |
Equipment | Type | In service | Manufacturer/Produced | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Artillery | ||||
K55/K55A1 | 155mm self-propelled howitzer | 1,040 | Samsung Techwin/(1985~1997) | M109A2 built under license by Samsung Techwin. All K55s will be upgraded to K55A1. [63] Will eventually be replaced by the K9 Thunder |
K9/A1 Thunder | 155mm self-propelled howitzer | 1,200 [64] | Samsung Techwin/1999~ | More than 1,200 will be delivered by 2019 (Complete upgrade of K9A1 to K9A2 by 2027). [65] |
K105A1 | 105mm self-propelled howitzer | 850 ~ | Samsung Techwin/2017~ [66] | Initially called the EVO-105; M101 howitzer mounted on a truck [67] [68] |
M110 | 8-inch (203mm) self-propelled howitzer | Phased-out | 99 M110s in service from 1971 till 2008. Some in reserve/storage. | |
K281A1 | 81mm self-propelled mortar | Doosan | K200 self-propelled mortar variant | |
K242A1 | 107mm self-propelled mortar | Doosan | K200 self-propelled mortar variant. To be replaced by the 120mm automatic loading mortar [69] | |
K532 (Bandvagn 206) | 107mm self-propelled mortar | Kia Motors/1994~ [42] | Made under license | |
Derivatives | ||||
K56 ARV | Ammunition resupply vehicle | (700 planned) [70] | Samsung Techwin/2013~ [71] | Based on the K55 chassis |
K10 ARV | Ammunition resupply vehicle | 179 | Samsung Techwin/2006~ | Based on the K9 chassis |
K77 FDCV | Fire direction center vehicle | Samsung Techwin/1990s? | Based on the K55 chassis |
Artillery | Image | Type | Version | Manufacturer/Deployment | Maximum range | Launch vehicle | Quantity(Rocket) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
K136/A1 Kooryoung | MRL | K-30 (130 mm) [72] K-33 (131 mm) [72] | Hanwha/1981~1987 Hanwha/1987~90s | 23 km [72] 36 km [72] | 156 | 140,000 [72] 340,000 [72] | ||
M270 | MLRS | 227 mm M270 [72] 227 mm M270A1 [72] | Lockheed Martin/1998 Lockheed Martin/2008 | 32 km 45.5 km | 58 | 27,684 [72] | Hanwha obtained the license to locally produce the 227mm M270 series rockets. [73] | |
K239 Chunmoo | MLRS | 239 mm K-MLRS | Hanwha/2015 [74] | 80 km | 367 [75] | - | One vehicle can fit 130 mm and 239 mm rockets at once; can also fire 227 mm rockets for M270 compatibility; to replace the K136 [76] |
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) additionally operates MIM-23 Hawk, MIM-104 Patriot and KM-SAM SAMs.
Name | Type | In service | Deployment | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Towed anti-aircraft gun | |||||
KM167A3 Vulcan | United States South Korea | 20mm towed vulcan | ≈1,000 [77] [78] | 1970s ~ 1980s [78] | Built in Korea under license by S&T Dynamics [78] |
Oerlikon 35 mm(GDF-003) [79] | 35 mm towed anti-aircraft gun | 36 [80] | 1975 [80] | Uses Skyguard system, two guns linked to one radar | |
SPAAG | |||||
K263A1 | South Korea | 20mm self-propelled vulcan | 200 | K200 self-propelled AAA variant | |
K30 Biho | South Korea | 30mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun | 176 [81] | ||
Self-propelled surface-to-air missile system | |||||
K-SAM Chunma | Short-range self-propelled SAM | 120 | Crotale NG system in indigenous design by LIG Nex1 | ||
MANPADS | |||||
Javelin [82] | Man-portable air defense system | 100 launchers [83] 1,500 missiles [83] | 1987 [83] | ||
Mistral | Man-portable air defense system | 406 launchers 2,760 missiles [84] | 1991~1997 [84] | ||
SA-16 Igla-1E | Man-portable air defense system | 50 launchers [85] 750 missiles [85] | 1996 [85] | Given by Russia as a partial payment of debts incurred during the Soviet era | |
Shingung (KP-SAM) | South Korea | Man-portable air defense system | 2005~ | Under delivery; approximately 2,000 missiles will be fielded | |
FIM-92 Stinger | Man-portable air defense system | Phased-out | Transferred from the War Reserve Stock for Allies - Korea; kept in reserve/storage |
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) operates an additional surface-to- surface missiles. ROKAF has modified U.S.-supplied Nike surface-to-air missiles for a surface-to-surface mission. [86] [87]
Missile | Type | Version | Range(ROK MND official) | CEP | Deployment | First seen in public | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hyunmoo-1 | South Korea | Short-range ballistic missile | 1A | 180 km (United States estimates its range would have been 250 km) [88] | 1986 [88] | Armed Forces day 1987 [89] | Phased-out [89] | 200 more in reserve/storage [89] | |
Hyunmoo-2 | South Korea | Short-range ballistic missile | 2A 2B 2C | 300 km [89] 500 km [89] 800 km [90] | 30–50 m [89] 30~50 m [89] - | 2004 [89] 2009 [89] 2017 [90] | 2012 [89] 2011 [89] - | 0000 | |
Hyunmoo-3 | South Korea | GLCM | 3A 3B 3C 3D | 500 km [89] 1,000 km [89] 1,500 km [89] 3,000 km [91] | 1 m [89] | 2000s [89] 2006 [89] 2011 [89] In development [91] | 2000s [89] 2009 [89] 2013 [89] - | 000 | The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) also operates Hyunmoo-3 cruise missiles. [92] |
ATACMS | United States | Tactical ballistic missile | Block I Block IA | 165 km 300 km | 2000 2004 | 111 110 |
The Army also operates its own patrol vessels. [93]
Watercraft | Type | Builder | Displacement | In Service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PBR-15 [93] | Army patrol boat | Kangnam corporation | 21 tonnes | 26 [94] | Primary mission is search and reconnaissance operations within 3 miles (5 km) of the Korean coastline. [95] |
Since 1987 the ROK Army has only operated rotary-wing aircraft. [96]
Aircraft | Type | Version | Deployment | Quantity | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bell 505 | United States | Training helicopter | 2023~2025 [97] | 40 ordered. Receiving along with the Republic of Korea Navy. [98] [99] | ||
Bell AH-1 Cobra | United States | Attack | AH-1F/S | 1977~1991 [100] | 75 | To be retired by 2024 [101] Currently being replaced by KAI LAH |
Boeing AH-64 Apache | United States | Attack | AH-64E Guardian | 2016~2017 [102] | 36 | Total 100 plan (2022~2028) [103] |
Boeing CH-47 Chinook | United States | Heavy transport | CH-47D CH-47DLR | 1988~1998 [100] | 32 | ROKA received a total of 27 CH-47D and 6 CH-47DLR. [104] |
CH-47F | 18 ordered in 2022, to be delivered between 2022 until 2028 [105] | |||||
KAI KUH-1 Surion | South Korea | Utility transport | KUH-1 | 2012~ | 200 (As of 2023) [106] | 220 ordered+ medevac 8 ordered Replacing UH-1H and UH-60P |
KAI LAH | South Korea | Light attack | LAH | 2022~ | 200 ordered in 2022 delivered from 2022 to 2031 [107] Replacing MD-500 and AH-1 | |
MD Helicopters MD 500 Defender | United States | Light attack | MD-500 Defender MD-500 TOW Defender | 1976~1988 [100] | 207 50 | 300 built under license by Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD) [108] |
Messerschmitt MBB Bo 105 | West Germany | Light attack | Bo 105CBS | 1999~2000 [100] | 12 | 12 built under license by KAI [109] |
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk | United States | Utility transport | UH-60P | 1990~1999 [100] | ≈100 [110] | 150 built under license by Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD) [111] Includes Navy and Air Force aircraft |
UAVs | ||||||
KAI RQ-101 Songgolmae | Reconnaissance | RQ-101 | 2001 | 4 corps | ||
IAI Searcher | Reconnaissance | Searcher II | 2005 [112] | 2 corps | ||
Elbit Skylark | Reconnaissance | Skylark II | 2009 [113] | |||
Ucon system RemoEye | Reconnaissance | Battalion-level(RemoEye 002,006) | 2009 [114] | Standard-issue | ||
IAI Heron-1 | Reconnaissance | Heron-1 | ~2015 | 0(3) | On order [115] | |
Korean Air KUS-DUAS | Reconnaissance | Division-level | 2015 [116] | |||
Korean Air KUS-FT | RSTA | Company-level | ~2016 | Two systems per company [117] |
System | Type | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
KM138 | Minelayer | Built by Samsung Techwin under license | |
M58 MICLIC | Mine clearing line charge | ||
MILES | Training device | Equipped for KCTC [118] |
Model | Manufacturer | Image | Origin | Type | Caliber | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assault rifles, carbines & battle rifles | ||||||
K13 | SNT Motiv | South Korea | Carbine | 5.56×45mm NATO | Formally called STC-16. Planned to replace the K1A in special forces. | |
Machine guns | ||||||
K15 | SNT Motiv | South Korea | Light machine gun | 5.56×45mm NATO | Future standard-issue squad automatic weapon | |
K16 | SNT Motiv | South Korea | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm NATO | Replacing the M60 [119] | |
Anti-tank weapons | ||||||
TAipers | Hanwha | — | South Korea | ATGM | 180 mm | [120] |
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