Daewoo K3
Encyclopedia
The Daewoo Precision Industries K3 was the third indigenous firearm developed in South Korea
, following the K1A
and K2
. The K3 is inspired by the FN Minimi
and the United States-issued M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. It is manufactured by S&T Daewoo
.
resembling the FN Minimi
and uses a standard 5.56 mm NATO cartridge. Its greatest advantage is that it is lighter than the M60
and can interchange cartridges with both the K1A and K2. The feed can come from either a 30-round box magazine or a 200-round metal link belt. It can be used with a bipod
for the Squad Automatic role
, and fitted with a tripod
for sustained fire support.
The rear sight is adjustable for elevation and windage, and the foresight can be adjusted for elevation for zeroing. The barrel has a built-in carry handle for ease of changing the barrel. The gun is gas operated, with a rotating bolt.
The weapon system was not designed for customization, due to the fact that most soldiers of the Korean military will not see extended use of their weapons.
when the country's Armed Forces
initially selected the FN Minimi
rather than picking the K3 or the 5.56 mm Ultimax
from Singapore
. The AFP's Modernization Program was attacked for showing favoritism towards a Western firearms company over Asian arms manufacturers.
Ultimately, 2000 K3s were acquired by the Philippine Army for their SAW requirement. They, and 150 newly delivered Kia KM450 trucks, were first shown in public on February 18, 2008.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, following the K1A
Daewoo K1
Daewoo Precision Industries K1/K1A assault carbine is the first modern firearm developed by Agency for Defense Development and manufactured by Daewoo Precision Industries, and entered service in Republic of Korea Armed Forces in 1981.-Development:...
and K2
Daewoo K2
The Daewoo Precision Industries K2 is an assault rifle of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, manufactured by Daewoo Precision Industries. It is a shoulder-fired, gas-operated, selective-fire assault rifle that feeds from a 20 or 30 round magazine and is chambered for 5.56 NATO. The K2 replaced the...
. The K3 is inspired by the FN Minimi
FN Minimi
The Minimi is a Belgian 5.56mm light machine gun developed by Fabrique Nationale in Herstal by Ernest Vervier. First introduced in 1974, it has entered service with the armed forces of over thirty countries...
and the United States-issued M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. It is manufactured by S&T Daewoo
S&T Daewoo
S&T Daewoo is a South Korean firearms and auto parts manufacturer founded in 1981. Its firearms equip most frontline units of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.- History :...
.
Description
The K3 is a light machine gunLight machine gun
A light machine gun is a machine gun designed to be employed by an individual soldier, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. Light machine guns are often used as squad automatic weapons.-Characteristics:...
resembling the FN Minimi
FN Minimi
The Minimi is a Belgian 5.56mm light machine gun developed by Fabrique Nationale in Herstal by Ernest Vervier. First introduced in 1974, it has entered service with the armed forces of over thirty countries...
and uses a standard 5.56 mm NATO cartridge. Its greatest advantage is that it is lighter than the M60
M60 machine gun
The M60 is a family of American general-purpose machine guns firing 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges from a disintegrating belt of M13 links...
and can interchange cartridges with both the K1A and K2. The feed can come from either a 30-round box magazine or a 200-round metal link belt. It can be used with a bipod
Bipod
A bipod is a support device that is similar to a tripod or monopod, but with two legs. It provides significant stability along two axes of motion .-Firearms:...
for the Squad Automatic role
Squad automatic weapon
A squad automatic weapon is a weapon used to give infantry squads or sections a portable source of automatic firepower. Weapons used in this role are selective-fire rifles, usually fitted with a bipod and heavier barrel to perform as Light machine guns...
, and fitted with a tripod
Tripod
A tripod is a portable three-legged frame, used as a platform for supporting the weight and maintaining the stability of some other object. The word comes from the Greek tripous, meaning "three feet". A tripod provides stability against downward forces, horizontal forces and moments about the...
for sustained fire support.
The rear sight is adjustable for elevation and windage, and the foresight can be adjusted for elevation for zeroing. The barrel has a built-in carry handle for ease of changing the barrel. The gun is gas operated, with a rotating bolt.
The weapon system was not designed for customization, due to the fact that most soldiers of the Korean military will not see extended use of their weapons.
Foreign sales
One example of the K3 was purchased by South Africa in 2006, and two examples were purchased by Thailand in the same year. A controversy broke out 2007 in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
when the country's Armed Forces
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
initially selected the FN Minimi
FN Minimi
The Minimi is a Belgian 5.56mm light machine gun developed by Fabrique Nationale in Herstal by Ernest Vervier. First introduced in 1974, it has entered service with the armed forces of over thirty countries...
rather than picking the K3 or the 5.56 mm Ultimax
Ultimax 100
The Ultimax 100 is a Singaporean 5.56mm light machine gun, developed by the Chartered Industries of Singapore by a team of engineers under the guidance of American firearms designer L. James Sullivan. The gun is extremely accurate due to its low recoil.Work on a new light support weapon for the...
from Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. The AFP's Modernization Program was attacked for showing favoritism towards a Western firearms company over Asian arms manufacturers.
Ultimately, 2000 K3s were acquired by the Philippine Army for their SAW requirement. They, and 150 newly delivered Kia KM450 trucks, were first shown in public on February 18, 2008.
Users
- 400 K3s acquired in 2006.: 110 K3s acquired in 2006. Used by the Komando Pasukan KatakKOPASKAKopaska or Komando Pasukan Katak is the premier frogman and underwater demolition unit of the Indonesian Navy. The Unit's motto is 'Tan Hana Wighna Tan Sirna', which means 'There is no obstacle that can not be defeated'. It was officially established on March 31, 1962 by President Sukarno to help...
(Kopaska) tactical diver group and Komando Pasukan KhususKopassusKopassus is an Indonesian Army special forces group that conducts special operations missions for the Indonesian government, such as direct action, unconventional warfare, sabotage, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and intelligence gathering.Kopassus was founded on April 16, 1952...
(Kopassus) special forces group.: 5,883 units were acquired in 2008.