Engineering:Daewoo Precision Industries K3

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Short description: Light machine gun


Daewoo Precision Industries K3
Daewoo Precision Industries K3
TypeLight machine gun
Place of originSouth Korea
Service history
In service1991–present
Used bySee Users
Wars
  • Colombian conflict
  • Gulf War
  • War in Afghanistan
  • Iraq War
  • Syrian Civil War
  • Moro conflict
  • Siege of Marawi
Production history
DesignerAgency for Defense Development
Daewoo Precision Industries
Designed1978–87
ManufacturerDaewoo Precision Industries (1981-1999)
Daewoo Telecom (1999-2002)
Daewoo Precision (2002-2006)
S&T Daewoo (2006-2012)
S&T Motiv (2012-2021)
SNT Motiv (2021-present)
Produced1988–present
Specifications
Mass6.85 kg (15.10 lb) (K3)
6.3 kg (13.89 lb) (K3 Para)
Length1,030 mm (41 in) (K3)
953 mm (37.5 in) (K3 Para extended)
805 mm (31.7 in) (K3 Para collapsed)
Barrel length533 mm (21.0 in) (K3)
365 mm (14.4 in) (K3 Para)
Cartridge5.56×45mm NATO
.223 Remington
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire700 rounds/min belt fed
1,000 rounds/min magazine fed
Muzzle velocity915 m/s (3,002 ft/s) (K3)
Effective firing range800 m (875 yd) (K3 K100)
460 m (503 yd) (K3 KM193)
600 m (656 yd) (K3 KM100)
Maximum firing range3,600 m (3,937 yd) (K3 K100)
2,650 m (2,898 yd) (K3 KM193)
Feed system200-round disintegrating M27 ammunition belt, 70-round box magazine (rare) or 30-round NATO STANAG magazine
SightsIron sights

The Daewoo Precision Industries K3 is a South Korean light machine-gun. It is the third indigenous firearm developed in South Korea by the Agency for Defense Development, following the K1 and K2 assault rifles. It is manufactured by Daewoo Precision Industries, current SNT Motiv.[1] The K3 is capable of firing both 5.56×45mm NATO and Remington rounds like the K2 assault rifle. The K3 light machine gun entered service in 1989, replacing the M60 machine gun in frontline use.[2]

This machine gun will be replaced by SNT Motiv K15 from its service since 2022.[3]

Development

A South Korean soldier with a Daewoo K3 in March 2012
K3 Para at IDEX 2017



The same improvements would also be applied to the shorter "Para" version.[4] As of 2019, it has not been adopted for general service, but it has been suggested that special forces units could use it.[5]

SNT Motiv K15

SNT Motiv K15
K15 with bipod and front handgrip attached.
TypeLight machine gun
Place of originSouth Korea
Service history
Used byRepublic of Korea Armed Forces
Production history
DesignerSNT Motiv
Designed2015-19
ManufacturerSNT Motiv
Produced2021-present
VariantsK15 and K15 Para
Specifications
Mass7.1 kg
Length990mm; 1070mm (with telescopic buttstock extended)
 length465mm

In late 2018, the S&T Motiv "Next-Generation LMG" was standardized as the K15, a heavily upgraded version of the K3 planned for fielding to the ROK Army by 2020. It has an adjustable buttstock and redesigned pistol grip/trigger group component for improved ergonomics, and internal parts are reconfigured and manufactured with closer tolerances for better reliability. Unlike the K3, it uses a push button to hold and release the barrel with three upper positioning lugs to ensure the barrel sits on a correct position when reattached. The feed cover and handguard have rails integrally attached, rather than needing an adapter to have them installed like the K3; this helps it to utilize a day/night fire control system that uses a thermal sight, laser rangefinder and ballistic computer. Each leg of the bipod operates independently to make for a more sturdy firing platform and the front sight is collapsible. The K15 is still fed from a 200-round plastic container and also can accept a STANAG magazine in emergency situations. Although the new design is more reliable, it is heavier at 7.16 kg (15.8 lb) without the FCS and 8.4 kg (19 lb) with the FCS.[6] Deliveries began in December 2022.[7]

Variants

  • K15: Heavily redesigned and modernized version.[6]
  • K15 Para: Para model of the K15.
K15 Para with black and tan parts.
K15 standard. Fitted with Picatinny rail on the feed cover and handguard; front handgrip and day/night fire control system scope that includes a thermal sight, laser rangefinder and ballistic computer are equipped.
K15 at IDEX 2025. Equipped with an Holograpic weapon sight.

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.[8]

A controversy broke out 2007 in the Philippines 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.[9] Ultimately, 6,540 K3s were acquired by the Philippine Army for their SAW requirement.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag

Variants

  • XK3: Experimental prototype.
  • K3: Standard mass-produced variant.
  • K3Para: Shortened version of K3 with RAS and minor modifications. First revealed in 2015.[10]

Users

Map with K3 users in blue
  •  Colombia: 400 K3s acquired in 2006.[8]
  •  Ecuador[11][12]
  •  Guatemala[13]
  •  Indonesia: 110 K3s acquired in 2006, and additional 803 in 2011.[8][14]
  •  South Korea: Used as standard squad automatic weapon. Retired from active service. Replaced by K15 in 2025.[15]
  •  Philippines: Philippine Army acquired 6,540 units in 2008.[16] Philippine National Police acquired K3s in 2019.[17]
  •  Thailand: 2 K3s transferred according to a 2019 SIPRI small arms report.[18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Business Outline, Defense Business". S&T Daewoo. http://www.sntdaewoo.com/st/business07.html. 
  2. ↑ "K계열 6가지 소총 직접 쏴보니". http://stoo.asiae.co.kr/news/stview.htm?idxno=2011051816525411562. 
  3. ↑ "South Korean Army receives first batch of K15 LMGs" (in en). 2022-12-21. https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/south-korean-army-receives-first-batch-of-k15-lmgs. 
  4. ↑ ADEX 2015 - SAdefensejournal.com, 5 August 2016
  5. ↑ "Show Report: DX Korea 2018". https://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=4670. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 THE ROK ARMY’S NEXT SQUAD AUTOMATIC WEAPON THE K15 LMG. Small Arms Defense Journal. 19 December 2019.
  7. ↑ "South Korean Army receives first batch of K15 LMGs". 21 December 2022. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/south-korean-army-receives-first-batch-of-k15-lmgs. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Daniel Watters. "The 5.56 X 45mm: 2006". Gun Zone. http://www.thegunzone.com/556dw-16.html. 
  9. ↑ "News". http://www.timawa.net/news.htm. 
  10. ↑ "ADEX 2015: South Korea shows new light MG - LWI - Land Warfare - Shephard Media". https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/south-korea-shows-new-light-mg/. 
  11. ↑ "Red internacional de tráfico de armas conecta a Perú con Ecuador y Colombia". https://asosec.co/red-internacional-de-trafico-de-armas-conecta-a-peru-con-ecuador-y-colombia/. 
  12. ↑ "K-3 Para 기관총을 들고 행진중인 에콰도르군". https://bemil.chosun.com/nbrd/bbs/view.html?b_bbs_id=10044&num=173344. 
  13. ↑ "[현장르포 30년만에 무분규 임금타결 S&T대우"]. http://biz.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/08/03/2011080300418.html. 
  14. ↑ 파이낸셜뉴스 입력: 수정 (1 November 2011). "한화-S&T대우, 인도네시아에 국산 K3기관총 수출". http://www.fnnews.com/news/201111011437308990. 
  15. ↑ "K3 시대 끝! 'K15 기관총' 전군 전력화 완료". Korean Forces Network, South Korean Ministry of Defense. 2025-12-23. https://www.youtube.com/dWeCp5RfD3s?si=02DoCYHE7L1ezPAI. 
  16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Philippine Army
  17. ↑ "United Defense". United Defense Manufacturing Corporation. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55f5244ce4b000445e4e263c/t/5fa4a9f362ed0f2c48b71691/1604626977202/UDMC+BROCHURE+(OCT2020)+web.pdf. 
  18. ↑ "Archived copy". http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/S-Trade-Update/SAS-Trade-Update-2019.pdf. 

Further reading

  • Jane's Infantry Weapons. 2002. 

Template:Modern South Korean Infantry Weapons



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