{
  "id": "k1a1",
  "name": "K1A1",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "KOR",
  "category": "Main battle tank",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 2001,
  "operators": [
    "KOR"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 1,
  "summary": "The K1A1, an upgraded version of the K1 MBT, was accepted into Korean service on 13 October 2001, after the first one was produced on 3 April 1996. The KM68 main gun has been replaced with the KM256 120 mm main gun (a licensed production model of the U.S.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Hyundai Rotem",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 4,
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 3.59,
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 2.25,
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 53.2,
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "1 x MTU MB871",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 1200,
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Transmission",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "ZF LSG 3000 automatic transmission w/mechanical lock-up and 4 forward/2 reverse gears",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Suspension",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "Hybrid (torsion bar at wheel stations 3, 4 and 5 and hydro-pneumatic units at wheel stations 1, 2 and 6); 6 road wheels with 19.7-in (500-mm) travel",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_road_kmh",
      "v": 65,
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "road_range_km",
      "v": 500,
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording without Preparation",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "1.2 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording with Preparation",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "2.2 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Computerized FCS",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Main Gun Stabilization",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sights",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Laser Rangefinder",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, with a Range of 200-7,990 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hull Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "The improved armor is called 'Korean Special Armor Plate (KSAP)'",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Turret Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "The improved armor is called 'Korean Special Armor Plate (KSAP)' is fitted over the frontal arc, turret front and sides. This provides protection against both kinetic and chemical energy attacks.",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Applique Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Available",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "collective: M13A1 gas-particulate filter",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Smoke Equipment",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "2 x 6 smoke grenade launchers on either side of turret",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "label": "Secondary armament",
      "v": "M60E1; K6",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "APFSDS-T",
      "role": "120 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Armor penetration": "650mm at 2 km"
      },
      "qty": "31 Rounds"
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "XK1",
      "text": "Experimental model under the ROKIT (Republic of Korea Indigenous Tank) project.",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "K1",
      "text": "First production variant. 1,027 units built between 1985 and 1998. To be upgraded to K1E1 by 2026.",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "K1M",
      "text": "Proposed export variant for Malaysia. In 1997, Malaysia expressed great interest in obtaining the K1, and the ROK responded by showing them the concept for K1M, which had several features not present in the baseline K1, ",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "K1 PIP",
      "text": "Upgraded K1. PIP includes changes in SAP to KSAP, GPS to GPTTS, and Nd-Yag to CO2 rangefinder.",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "K1E1",
      "text": "Further upgraded K1. Production began in December 2013, and the first K1E1 rolled out on 7 July 2014. The upgrade will be similar to that of K1A2. All K1 will be upgraded to K1E1 by 2026.[9] The name was inherited from t",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "K1E2",
      "text": "As of August 2018, the K1E2 type is planned to be improved. It is expected to be upgraded to a large-scale repair (renovation) in 2024. The main improvement point is the replacement of the new armored upgrading of the pr",
      "src": [
        "weg-k1a1"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "tank",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/k1a1.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-k1a1": {
      "title": "K1A1 South Korean Main Battle Tank (MBT)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/K1A1_South_Korean_Main_Battle_Tank",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}