Replacing The US M60 Machine Gun, The K-16 Made In South Korea Has High Accuracy At Night Or Foggy Conditions

Illustration of a South Korean soldier firing a machine gun. (Wikimedia Commons/United States Marine Corps)

JAKARTA - South Korea on Wednesday began deploying a new 7.62mm caliber machine gun to the Army, under a project to replace decades of existing equipment and strengthen combat capabilities, the arms procurement agency said.

The K-16 machine gun will replace the US-made K-3 and M60 guns as the military's basic firepower asset, the first replacement in three decades, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said, citing the Korea Times December 15.

The K-16 machine gun's operational range is 30 percent longer than the K-3 and its destructive power is about twice that of the K-3, according to DAPA. The military plans to deploy them to all armed forces by 2024.

The new machine gun will be supplied along with thermal binoculars, which will allow troops to accurately detect targets even at night or in foggy conditions, the government said.

This machine gun was developed by SNT Motiv Co., a local defense company, with thermal binoculars supplied by Eo System Co. under the procurement project estimated at 124.2 billion won or about 104.7 million US dollars.

"With significantly increased power, range, and reliability, the company's first 7.62mm machine gun-II, and thermal binoculars will enhance the combat capabilities of small units," DAPA said in a press release.

K-16 machine gun model. (Source: Defense Acquisition Program Administration)

Meanwhile, citing Aju Business Daily, the K16 thermal binoculars combine a compact thermographic camera and an aiming reticle. In addition, the K16 machine gun is equipped with a swap handle to facilitate gun barrel swapping. It is designed to reduce the flame by applying an open flash deflector.

"There are questions about the K16 machine gun from various countries, and we will expand exports based on this successful military shipment," an unnamed SNT Motiv official said in a statement, citing growing demand for the 7.62mm machine gun for tanks, armored vehicles, and helicopters.

To note, the basic model K16 can be used to suppress mass troops during close combat. Meanwhile, the K16E coaxial model is operated to support close combat of mechanized units. The coaxial machine gun is mounted on a coaxial mount as a secondary weapon in addition to the vehicle's primary weapon. The K16D model is mounted on tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters, and ships.