Credit
대한민국 국군 Republic of Korea Armed Forces · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source ↗ · Modified
FORCETALLY
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At a glance
Measured figures
K1A1 gun forward
Single sourceK1 gun forward
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | K1 tank | Merkava |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Main battle tank[source] | Main battle tank[source] |
| Place of origin | South Korea[source] | Israel[source] |
| In service | K1: 1987–present K1E1: 2014–present K1A1: 2001–2024 K1A2: 2013–present[source] | 1979–present[source] |
| Used by | See operators[source] | See Operators[source] |
K1: 9.67 m (gun forward) K1A1: 9.71 m (gun forward)[source]
excl. gun barrel
Single sourceincl. gun barrel
Single source9.04 m or 29.7 ft (incl. gun barrel) 7.60 m or 24.9 ft (excl. gun barrel)[source]
Maximum; Cross-country
Single sourceMaximum; roads
Single source65 km/h (40 mph) (roads) 40 km/h (25 mph) (cross-country)[source]
Maximum; Off-road
Single sourceMaximum; On road
Single sourceSTX Engine / MTU Friedrichshafen MB871Ka-501 8-cylinder water-cooled turbocharged diesel engine @ 2,600 rpm
Single sourceSTX Engine / MTU Friedrichshafen MB871Ka-501 8-cylinder water-cooled turbocharged diesel engine 1,200 hp (890 kW) @ 2,600 rpm[source]
MTU 12V883 turbocharged diesel engine (4, 5)
Single sourceMTU 12V883 1119 kW (1501 hp) turbocharged diesel engine (4, 5)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Designer | Chrysler Defense General Dynamics Land Systems Hyundai Precision Industry Agency for Defense Development[source] | Mantak[source] |
|---|
| Designed | K1: 1978–1985 K1A1: 1991–1996[source] | — |
|---|
| Manufacturer | Hyundai Precision Industry (1985–2000) Hyundai Mobis (2000–2001) Rotem Co., Ltd. (2001–2007) Hyundai Rotem (2007–present)[source] | Mantak, IDF Ordnance Corps (assembly)[source] |
|---|
| Unit cost | K1: ₩ 2.3 billion (1994) K1A1: ₩4.4 billion (2001) K1A2: ₩6.0 billion[source] | $3.5 million (Merkava IV for delivery to the IDF, FY2003) (c. $5.85 million, FY2023) $10 million (Merkava IV) (2014 price for sales to other countries)[source] |
|---|
| Produced | K1: 1987–1997 K1E1: 2013–present K1A1: 1999–2011 K1A2: 2013–2024[source] | 1979–present[source] |
|---|
| No. built | K1/E1: 1,027 K1A1/A2: 484[source] | Mark 1: 250 Mark 2: 580 Mark 3: 780 Mark 4: 360 in service + 300 units being delivered[source] |
|---|
| Armor | K1: Special Armor Package (SAP) K1A1: Korean Special Armor Plate (KSAP)[source] | Classified composite / sloped armour modular design.[source] |
|---|
| Main armament | K1, K1E1: KM68A1 105 mm (47 rounds) K1A1, K1A2: KM256 120 mm (32 rounds), or Hyundai WIA CN03 120 mm (32 rounds)[source] | 120 mm (4.7 in) MG251-LR smoothbore gun, capable of firing LAHAT ATGM[source] |
|---|
| Secondary armament | M2 or K6 12.7x99 mm NATO HMG (commander's mount) M60D 7.62×51mm NATO GPMG (loader's mount) M60E2-1 7.62×51mm NATO GPMG (coaxial)[source] | 1 × 12.7 mm (0.50 in) MG 3 × 7.62 mm (0.300 in) MG 1 × Mk 19 grenade launcher 1 × 60 mm (2.4 in) internal mortar 12 × smoke grenades[source] |
|---|
| Power/weight | K1: 23.4 hp/ton (17.44 kW/t) K1A1: 22.5 hp/ton (16.77 kW/t) K1A2: 22 hp/ton (16.40 kW/t)[source] | 18.8 kW/t[source] |
|---|
| Transmission | Hyundai Transys/ ZF Friedrichshafen LSG 3000 Automatic, 4 forward, 2 reverse[source] | Renk RK 325[source] |
|---|
| Suspension | Hydropneumatic (wheel 1, 2, 6), torsion bar (wheel 3, 4, 5)[source] | Helical spring[source] |
|---|
| Ground clearance | 460 mm (18 in) longitudinal slope: 60 % lateral slope: 30 % vertical: 1.1 m trench: 2.74 m fording: 1.2 m (without snorkel) or 2.2 m (with snorkel)[source] | 0.45 m (1.5 ft)[source] |
|---|
| Wars | — | 1982 Lebanon War South Lebanon conflict First Intifada Second Intifada 2006 Lebanon War Gaza War Operation Pillar of Defense Operation Protective Edge Gaza war[source] |
|---|
| Payload capacity | — | 48 rounds[source] |
|---|
| Fuel capacity | — | 1400 litres[source] |
|---|
64 km/h (40 mph) on road 55 km/h (34 mph) off road[source]