Daewoo Precision Industries K4

{{Infobox weapon

| name = Daewoo Precision Industries K4
K4 고속유탄기관총

| image = K4 automatic grenade launcher.png

| image_size = 300

| caption = K4 automatic grenade launcher

| origin = South Korea

| type = Automatic grenade launcher

| is_ranged = yes

| is_explosive = yes

| service = 1993–present

| used_by = See Users

| wars = War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Libyan Civil War

| designer = Agency for Defense Development
Daewoo Precision Industries

| design_date = 1985–1991

| manufacturer = Daewoo 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)

| unit_cost =

| production_date = 1993–present

| number =

| variants =

| spec_label =

| weight = 34.4 kg (75.84 lb) (no tripod)

| length = 1,072 mm (42.2 in)

| part_length = 412 mm (16.22 in)

| width =

| height =

| diameter =

| crew =

| cartridge = 40×53mm grenade

| caliber = 40 mm

| barrels =

| action = API blowback

| rate = 325–378 rounds/min

| velocity = {{convert|240.8|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}} (K212)
{{convert|242.3|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}} (KM383){{cite web|url=https://dl.nanet.go.kr/file/fileDownload.do?linkSystemId=NADL&controlNo=NONB1201818281|title=화기별·탄종별 사격장 안전기준 정립 연구|publisher=Republic of Korea Army Headquarters|date=25 May 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014062442/https://dl.nanet.go.kr/file/fileDownload.do?linkSystemId=NADL&controlNo=NONB1201818281|archivedate=14 October 2021|accessdate=14 October 2021|author=Security Management Institute}} p. 118

| range = {{convert|1500|m|yd|abbr=on}}

| max_range = {{convert|2200|m|yd|abbr=on}}

| feed = belt-fed, 32 or 48 grenades belt

| sights = KAN/TVS-5 night vision scope can be attached{{Cite web|url=http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/weapons-of-the-republic-of-korea-marine-corps|title = Weapons of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps – Small Arms Defense Journal}}

| breech =

| recoil =

| carriage =

| elevation =

| traverse =

| filling =

| filling_weight =

| detonation =

| yield =

}}

The Daewoo Precision Industries K4 ({{Korean |hangul=K4 고속유탄기관총 |hanja=K4 高速榴彈機關槍}}) is a 40×53mm high-speed automatic grenade launcher in use with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.

The K4 was developed as a complement to the K-201 hand-held grenade launcher (attachable to the K2).

History

The K4 was first developed in 1994.{{Cite web|url=https://21stcenturyasianarmsrace.com/2017/04/20/south-korea-is-the-new-arsenal-of-democracy/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526082004/https://21stcenturyasianarmsrace.com/2017/04/20/south-korea-is-the-new-arsenal-of-democracy/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 26, 2017|title = South Korea is the New Arsenal of Democracy|date = 20 April 2017}}

Design

File:Demonstration of firing of the K4 automatic grenade launcher.webm

It has a weight of 34.4 kg (empty, without accessories) and can fire up to 325 rounds per minute with a firing range of 1.5 km. When needed to be used during night operations, a KAN/TVS-5 night vision scope can be attached onto the receiver.

The K4 is said to visually resemble the Mk 19 AGL.{{cite web |url=https://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery-Upgrades/Daewoo-K4-40-mm-machine-gun-Korea-South.html |title=Daewoo K4 40 mm machine gun (Korea, South) - Jane's Armour and Artillery Upgrades |website=www.janes.com |access-date=7 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106151611/https://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery-Upgrades/Daewoo-K4-40-mm-machine-gun-Korea-South.html |archive-date=6 November 2009 |url-status=dead}}

Users

File:Daewoo Precision Industries K4 Users.png

{{flag|Iraq}}: Small numbers used by Iraqi special forces on Humvees.{{cite web|title=ISOF Arms & Equipment Part 4 – Grenade Launchers & Anti-Armour Weapons |url=http://armamentresearch.com/isof-arms-equipment-part-4-grenade-launchers-anti-armour-weapons/|first=Miles|last= Vining|date=June 19, 2018|website=armamentresearch.com}}
{{flagcountry|Libya}}: First export customer, purchased the K4 in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.hisntholdings.com/eng/sub04_01.html?code=&subcode=&page=2&bbsData=bm89Mzk3%7C%7C&mode=view&397 |title=S&T Daewoo Succeeded in First Exporting K4 Automatic Grenade Machine Gun to Libya |date=December 21, 2009 |publisher=S&T Holdings |accessdate=2010-06-24|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303115107/http://www.hisntholdings.com/eng/pr/news.html?code=share_notice&p=&page=15&bbsData=bm89Mjg3%7C%7C&search=&searchstring=&mode=view|archivedate=2020-03-03}}
{{flag|Mexico}}: Purchased since 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.sntmotiv.com/phtml/news_view.php?idx=395&kind= |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150413200849/http://www.sntmotiv.com/phtml/news_view.php?idx=395&kind= |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 13, 2015 |title=S&T모티브, 멕시코, 파푸아뉴기니 軍․警에 총기 수출 |date=April 10, 2013 |publisher=S&T Motiv }}
{{POL}}: Several hundred K4s ordered in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://milmag.pl/koreanskie-granatniki-k4-dla-polski/|title=Koreańskie granatniki K4 dla Polski|date= September 26, 2022|publisher=milmag.pl|lang=pl}}
{{flag|Republic of Korea}}
{{flag|Singapore}}: 17 K4s transferred according to a 2019 SIPRI small arms report.{{cite web |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/S-Trade-Update/SAS-Trade-Update-2019.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.smallarmssurvey.org |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211191444/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/S-Trade-Update/SAS-Trade-Update-2019.pdf |archive-date=11 December 2019 |url-status=dead}}

References

External links

Category:API blowback firearms

Category:Automatic grenade launchers

Category:40×53mm grenade launchers

Category:Post–Cold War weapons of South Korea

Category:Weapons of South Korea

Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1993

Category:ADD research and development projects