Daewoo K1A
S&T Motiv (formerly Daewoo Precision Industries) · Carbine · In Production · 1982
Also known as: K1A, K1 SMG, Daewoo K1, MAX-1
Overview
The Daewoo K1A is a compact South Korean carbine chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and manufactured by Daewoo Precision Industries (now S&T Motiv). Despite firing a rifle-caliber cartridge, it is officially designated as a submachine gun by the South Korean Ministry of National Defense because it was developed as a replacement for the M3 Grease Gun in the ROK military's table of organization. The K1A uses a hybrid operating system combining the AR-15/M16 direct impingement gas system with a bolt carrier and recoil spring arrangement similar to the AR-18, which eliminates the need for a buffer tube in the stock and enables the use of a compact wire folding stock. The right-side reciprocating charging handle is also derived from the AR-18 design. The K1A is the standard-issued compact weapon of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, widely used by vehicle crews, officers, special forces, and support personnel.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2870 g (101.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 838 mm (32.99") |
| Folded Length | 653 mm (25.71") |
| Barrel Length | 263 mm (10.35") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Direct Impingement |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 790 m/s (2592 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1249 J (921 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 250 m (273 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 800 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Aluminum Alloy |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Parkerized |
Calibers
- 5.56x45mm NATO · primary · 5.56mm NATO — also known as 5.56x45mm, 5.56 NATO
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Burst 3, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector, Fire Selector
- Features: Rotating Bolt, Direct Impingement Gas System, Wire Folding Stock, Select Fire, Stanag Magazine Compatible, Right Side Charging Handle, Ar18 Bolt Carrier Design, Flash Suppressor, Three Round Burst
Variants
- K1 — Original
- Daewoo MAX-1 — Civilian
- K1A1 — Civilian Export
Service history
Operators
- Republic of Korea Armed Forces · adopted 1981 · as K1A
- Republic of Korea National Police · as K1A
- Republic of Korea Special Warfare Command · adopted 1981 · as K1A
- Indonesian Air Force · as K1A
- Cambodian Special Forces Command · as K1A
- Singapore Armed Forces · as K1A
- Senegalese Armed Forces · adopted 2003 · as K1A
- Papua New Guinea Defence Force · as K1A
- Bangladesh Armed Forces · as K1A
Production
Production years: 1982-present
Standard-issue submachine gun of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces since 1982. Produced continuously by Daewoo Precision Industries (now S&T Motiv). Exported to at least 6 countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Senegal, Papua New Guinea, and Bangladesh.
Origin
Country of origin: South Korea
Designer: Agency for Defense Development (ADD)
Notes
The original K1 entered service in 1981 but suffered from excessive muzzle flash, recoil, and noise due to its flash suppressor design. A redesigned flash suppressor was developed that reduced flash to one-third of the original, and all K1s in service were subsequently modified to the K1A standard beginning in 1982. The short 263mm barrel significantly reduces muzzle velocity compared to full-length 5.56mm rifles, dropping from typical 920 m/s to approximately 790 m/s. Despite its official submachine gun classification, the K1A's rifle-caliber chambering gives it considerably more range and penetration than true submachine guns. Singapore purchased 855 K1As, and Senegal received 280 units in 2003.
Background
The K1A was born from the ROK Special Warfare Command's 1976 request for a compact weapon to replace the aging M3 Grease Gun. Rather than simply procuring a foreign design, South Korea's Agency for Defense Development created a novel hybrid that married the proven AR-15 gas system with the AR-18's bolt carrier layout, achieving a compact package without the buffer tube that limits stock folding on M16-derived designs. Its official classification as a submachine gun despite its 5.56mm chambering remains one of the more unusual designations in modern small arms, a bureaucratic artifact of the weapon it was designed to replace rather than a reflection of its actual capabilities.