Korea has successfully developed a next-generation combined rifle that can launch munitions that explode midair above the enemy line. The state-of-the-art rifles will be used at field units starting 2009.
The Agency for Defense Development said it has tested and evaluated the performance of the prototype of the new rifle from July 2007 to earlier this year in February. The agency announced on July 28 that the prototype rifle passed all 47 conditions and was evaluated as suitable for warfare deployment.

Rifles

A rifle is an individual firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. A rifle or a personal firearm is constitutes the most fundamental and ultimate unit of a country’s military capacity.

Individual Firearms of the Korean Military

Individual firearms of the Korean military have traditionally been the same as those used by the U.S. armed forces or imported from abroad. Gradually, however, they were reformed to fit the physical form of the Korean soldiers and went on to be developed using indigenous Korean technology. The K2 rifle is the main firearm of the Korean military since 1984. Prior to the K2 rifle, the K1 rifle was developed as the country’s first individual firearm. The K3 rifle has since been developed.

Next-Generation Rifle

The next-generation rifle is a state-of-the-art new weapon, developed using indigenous Korean technology. The development of the rifle began in April, 2000 and a total of 18.5 billion won or 18.5 million dollars. It is called a ‘combined rifle’ as its double-barrel structure allows the user to selectively pull the single trigger to launch 5.56-millimeter bullets used in traditional rifles as well as 20-millimeter air munitions. Key features of the rifle include a laser beam distance measuring device and combined optical calculator which automatically indicate the target on the screen.

Munitions

One of the most innovative features of the next-generation rifle is the munitions that explode in midair when launched. With traditional rifles, it is impossible to kill the target that is hiding in a foxhole. But the next-generation rifle is capable of launching munitions that can explode in midair above the enemy line and hit enemy soldiers hiding deep inside the foxhole.

When a soldier shoots a laser beam using the rifle’s distance measuring device, the weapon’s combined optical calculator will automatically measure the distance and indicate the enemy target on the screen. Pulling the trigger automatically records the measured distance in the 20mm munitions, which are launched and automatically exploded three to four meters in midair above the ground. The munitions are capable of penetrating the wall of a building and detonating inside.

The United States, Singapore and Sweden are among the countries that are currently developing rifles with similar features but have yet to solve problems related to the size and weight of the firearm as well as the bullet capacity. Korea’s next-generational rifle is the first such rifle in the world to be deployed to field units.
The new rifle weighs 6.1 kg and is 860 mm long, with an effective range of 460-500 m. Given that the price of one next-generation rifle is W16 million, much more expensive than conventional ones, only about two of these rifles will be deployed for each field unit squad.

Key Indicators for the Next-Generation Rifle

Length 860mm Weight 6.1kg Effective Range 460 ~ 500m Price per unit 16 million won (16,000 dollars) Bullet Traditional 5.56mm bullet & 20mm air munitions Key Features target locater, laser distance measuring device, day-time and night-time panoramic sight of double magnification

Detonation of the Next-Generation Rifle’s Munitions

1. The laser distance measuring device measures the distance between the shooter and the target 2. The combined optical calculator automatically measures the distance and indicates the target on the screen. 3. Pulling the trigger automatically records the measured distance in the 20mm munitions which are launched in the direction of the target. 4. The munitions automatically explode midair above the target hiding in a foxhole.