The Republic of Korea Military (RoKA) has acquired the primary batch of a brand new, locally-developed 120mm self-propelled mortar (SPM) system, built-in right into a K200A1 KIFV tracked armoured personnel service. Collection manufacturing of the brand new SPM, growth of which was accomplished in 2019, started in late 2020 below a five-year KRW779.4 billion ($650 million) contract, whereas the command publish autos are being produced below a separate KRW101.6 billion contract, in line with the Protection Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The primary series-produced examples of the brand new built-in system, meant to switch the ageing 107mm K242-series mortars have been not too long ago delivered to military models, as have been a number of C2 platforms, probably the K277A1 command publish car.
Developed by a number of South Korean firms, together with Hanwha Protection and S&T Dynamics, for KRW41.3 billion, the SPM, which appears to be primarily based on a variant of the K200A1 APC, can rotate 360°, is acknowledged to have a strike vary 2.3 instances larger than that of the ageing M30, and options automated fire-control and a semi-automatic loading programs. Weighing below 1,400kg, the mortar has a sustained price of fireside of 3rpm, a most price 10rpm for 3min and ranges of km for HE and 13km for rocket-assisted rounds, in line with S&T Dynamics. Response time for the primary spherical is alleged to be 30 seconds. DAPA didn’t reveal what number of models of the brand new system, the designation of which was not talked about, are presently on order.
Commercial
The K200 KIFV (Korea Infantry Preventing Automobile) is a South Korean armoured personnel service, initially produced by Daewoo Heavy Industries as a home substitute for older armored personnel carriers, such because the M113 in entrance line service with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces on the time of the K200’s growth. A complete of two,383 K200 autos of all configurations have been produced between 1985 and 2006, amongst that are 111 K200A1 autos exported to Malaysia. K200A1 is an upgraded variant of the bottom K200 with extra highly effective engines and transmission. The improve additionally added NBC safety and computerized fireplace extinguishing system. The K200A1 is very modular, and its variants present extra fight helps by outfitting many various equipments.
The self-propelled mortar service tracked car is predicated on a variant of the K200A1 tracked armored car developed by Hanwha Protection. The self-propelled mortar system for use by South Korea’s mechanized army unit can carry 4 passengers, with a most velocity of 70 kilometers (43 miles) per hour. With a most vary of 12 km, it could possibly fireplace as much as eight photographs per minute. The mortar which weighs lower than 1,400 kg, has a most price of fireside of 10 rounds per minute for 3 minutes, a sustained price of fireside of three rounds per minute, and a firing vary of 8 km for high-explosive rounds and of 13 km for rocket-assisted projectiles. The response time for the primary spherical is acknowledged to be 30 seconds.
