Upgraded Performance K1A2 Tank

The K1A2 tank is a 120mm main gun tank based on the K1 tank developed in the 1980s. As the number of K2 tanks deployed has decreased compared to the plan, it has become necessary for the K1A2 to play a central role in our military's armored forces for an extended period.

[Monthly Defense Times Editor-in-Chief An Seung-beom] The K1A2 tank, an upgraded version of the main battle tank K1A1, along with the K2 Black Panther tank, forms the core of our military’s armored forces. At the Ground Forces Festival held in 2012, when the mass production of the K2 tank was decided, a K1A1 tank with several modifications appeared. This upgraded K1A1 tank, introduced as the K1A2 tank from its initial unveiling, was officially designated in July 2013, and the first mass-produced units were delivered in December of the same year.

▲C4i Battlefield Management System= The key element of the K1A2 performance upgrade is the application of a digital battlefield management system. The previous inter-vehicle communication, which was conducted via radio, was upgraded to a C4i system based on data communication. This means accurate battlefield situation awareness and real-time information sharing became possible. With this system, wireless data communication networks, computerized data processing, and display devices were implemented. Battalion-level command and control capable of recognizing visible tactical situations became possible, and a GPS-based satellite navigation system was simultaneously applied.

▲Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) System= The IFF system applied to the K2 tank and K21 infantry fighting vehicle was also installed on the K1A2 tank. Developed using technology from the French Leclerc tank, the IFF system consists of a questioning device and a response device. The questioning device functions to ask whether the target is friend or foe through directional signals, while the response device covers 360° to respond to friendly questioning signals coming from multiple directions. All questioning and responses are encrypted, with a response time within one second and an identification probability exceeding 99%.

▲Front and Rear Cameras and Other Features= Like the K2 tank, cameras were installed on the front and rear of the hull to ensure driving convenience and safety; this was also applied identically to the K1E1 tank, an upgraded version of the K1 tank.

Additionally, a deep-water fording kit storage box was added to the rear of the turret alongside the existing toolbox. Although there were plans to apply a soft-kill type Active Protection System (APS) that interferes with and evades enemy missile and rocket targeting simultaneously with the K2 tank, this was canceled due to budget and tactical effectiveness issues.

▲Significance of the Performance Upgrade and Future Outlook= The military authorities planned to first field the initial batch of K2 tanks in 2014 and begin the second batch of mass production in 2016. However, mass production was continuously delayed due to issues with the domestically developed powerpack intended for the second batch. Eventually, the transmission was imported from Germany’s RENK and combined with a domestic engine powerpack, allowing the second batch of about 100 units to begin production in 2019. The third batch is planned to be reduced to about 50 units compared to the original plan.

As a result, the K1 series tanks inevitably continue to function as a pillar of our armored forces even after the full-scale deployment of the K2 tanks. While the K2 tanks take the forefront of the force, the K1 series will serve as the backbone of armored power immediately behind them.

Therefore, the K1 series tanks are expected to share their service life with the K2 tanks. Since the K1 series was first developed in the 1980s and underwent main gun upgrades in the 1990s, performance upgrades are unavoidable to utilize them as a core part of the force in future wars.

The K1A2 tank, upgraded from the K1A1, and the K1E1 tank, upgraded from the K1, were born under these circumstances. Currently, the K1A2 tanks are deployed to mechanized infantry divisions and main armored brigades remaining after the reorganization of mechanized units under Defense Reform 2.0, while the K1E1 tanks are assigned to armored brigades and infantry divisions. The aging M48A5K tanks are being phased out except for those deployed in some infantry divisions, mobilization divisions, and mobilization supplementary tank battalions (non-organized during peacetime). The Army’s M48A3K tanks equipped with 90mm main guns were completely retired after being excluded from essential wartime equipment in 2018.

The military plans to upgrade all K1A1 tanks to K1A2 tanks by 2022 and is promoting a second performance upgrade project (K1E2) for the K1E1 tanks starting in 2024.

The second performance upgrade elements include the installation of new armor materials and comprehensive protection systems (positive pressure + heating and cooling), application of neutron shielding systems, installation of remote-controlled weapon stations (RCWS), and increased powerpack output (currently considering between tuning the existing powerpack or replacing it with a 1,500-horsepower powerpack). These upgrades will apply not only to the K1E1 tanks but also to the K1A2 tanks.

Other necessary elements for future warfare include suspension upgrades, thermal imaging periscopes for drivers, laser warning devices, and auxiliary power units (APU).