South Korean firearms firm SNT Motiv (beforehand Daewoo Precision Industries/S&T Daewoo) has delivered the primary batch of K15 mild machine weapons (LMGs) to the Republic of Korea Military (RoKA). The brand new mild machine weapons are built-in with day and evening sighting units, which weren’t accessible within the K3s. As well as, accuracy, reliability, and working comfort of K15 mild machine weapons have been improved. Picatinny rails are put in to make use of numerous equipment. The butt and bipod may be freely adjusted in response to the physique of the troopers. The K15 mild machine weapons will change the ageing fleet of K3 mild machine weapons with the Republic of Korea Military. The K3 has been the spine of ROK infantry squads’ firepower (one K3 per squad).
The K3 is a light-weight machine gun resembling the FN Minimi and makes use of an ordinary 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. Its biggest benefit is that it’s lighter than the M60 and may interchange cartridges with each the K1A and K2. By 2015, ROK forces have been trying to receive a brand new LMG, because the K3 was affected by age and reliability points. The issue is, through the Nineteen Eighties, the Minimi itself wasn’t mature sufficient; and the K3 wasn’t a licensed copy of the Minimi. It was very near the Minimi, but it surely’s extremely uncertain FN truly equipped technical particulars to Daewoo Precision. In late 2018, the S&T Motiv “Subsequent-Technology LMG” was standardized because the K15, a closely upgraded model of the K3 deliberate for fielding to the ROK Military by 2020.
Commercial
The title K15 means it’s the subsequent Korean-made and standardized small arm after Ok-14, a bolt-action sniper rifle. It has an adjustable buttstock and redesigned pistol grip/set off group element for improved ergonomics, and inside components are reconfigured and manufactured with nearer tolerances for higher reliability. In contrast to the K3, it makes use of a push button to carry and launch the barrel with three higher positioning lugs to make sure the barrel sits on an accurate place when reattached. The feed cowl and handguard have rails integrally connected, reasonably than needing an adapter to have them put in just like the K3. It additionally gives the Hanwha Techniques PAS-18K thermal weapon sight at the side of the K15.
Every leg of the bipod operates independently to make for a extra sturdy firing platform and the entrance sight is collapsible. The K15 continues to be fed from a 200-round plastic container and likewise can settle for a STANAG journal in emergency conditions. Though the brand new design is extra dependable, it’s heavier at 7.16 kg (15.8 lb) with out the FCS and eight.4 kg (19 lb) with the FCS. The one downside to the K15 in comparison with the K3 is its weight. Whereas the K3 weighs barely lower than 7kg, K15 is near Minimi Mk.3’s weight. Even with out its bipod, the K15 weighs 7.16kg, already heavier than the K3. And with its “Full Set” configuration it weighs 8.4kg. However in contrast with the Minimi Mk.3, which is already near 8kg with out optics, it appears tolerable.
