Tank origin

Seeking to simultaneously modernize the Republic of Korea’s armor capability and spur domestic tank production capability, South Korea licensed for domestic production a modified version of the General Dynamics (Chrysler Defense at the time of the original deal) XM1, the prototype of the M1 Abrams. With changes to the powertrain and transmission, and the addition of hydropneumatic suspension and fording capability, the XK1 design was adapted to deal with the specific terrain of the Korean peninsula. The XK1 was armed with a 105 mm rifled cannon (a licensed version of the M68E1 cannon found on the M1 Abrams). Once operational, the XK1 was redesignated as the K1, and mass production began in 1985, although it was not publicly announced until 1987 for security reasons. The K1 lacks an over-pressure Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) protection system, so the crew must don protective gear in an NBC environment. Although the specific armor configuration is secret, it is assumed that the K1 is fitted with ceramic composite armor similar to the M1 Abrams.