The Place Where the Heart of the Train is Made, ‘STX Engine’

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] In the early morning of June 25, 1950, North Korea launched an attack using Soviet-made T-34 tanks and SU-76 self-propelled guns. At that time, our military did not possess a single tank or self-propelled gun. Since then, our military developed the ‘K1 tank’ and its engine in 1986, designed to suit Korea’s terrain and operational conditions. To see the engine, the heart of the tank, I visited the STX Engine Changwon factory on the 12th.

Upon entering the factory gate, the building labeled “Albat” immediately caught my eye. Next to it stood the assembly plant and the test operation building side by side. This was a defense industry factory producing the hearts of tanks and naval vessels used by our military. Since its establishment in 1976, STX Engine has produced about 7,000 land engines and 1,000 marine engines. The marine engines account for 90% of the Navy’s vessels.

The engine body is divided into aluminum, cast iron, and cast steel. For land engines, aluminum is mainly used to keep them lightweight, while marine engines, which prioritize power, primarily use cast steel. Kang Won-mo, head of the Special Machinery Team, emphasized, “An engine is like a human heart; even the smallest gap leads to immediate disposal,” adding, “There must be no gaps even at the 0.0001 micron (one-thousandth of 1 mm) level.” The defect rate in the machining factory was strictly controlled to be less than 0.1%.

On the production line, 17 machining devices resembling containers were lined up. The process of carving the engine’s exterior with diamonds looked like sculpting a statue. The procedure to verify the engine’s exterior was meticulous. STX Engine also received accreditation from the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS), recognizing its ability to conduct internationally compliant testing and evaluation independently. On the adjacent line, the new heart of the K1A2 tank used by our Army was being made, shining as if ready to beat at any moment.

A company official guided me to a water tank about 4 meters long, resembling an aquarium, to show the engine inspection process. The engine was submerged in water while a hose was connected to it to inject air. If any air escaped, it meant there was a gap in the engine, indicating a defect. This was why the factory staff kept their eyes fixed on the aquarium with intense focus.

At the assembly plant, complex parts surrounded the engine. There were about 20,000 parts used in the engine. In the final stage of the four-step process, the engine took shape, resembling a heart with blood vessels attached. As the line progressed, the engine’s form became more defined.

The completed engine was moved to the test operation building for another process. The test operation building consists of seven compartments. Rooms 1 to 3 test marine engines, while rooms 5 to 8 test land engines. Monitors installed in each compartment displayed 20 instrument panels and about 30 buttons, appearing complex. Lee Soon-sang, head of the Special Production Team, said, “High-output marine engines undergo 80 hours of testing over a week, and land engines undergo 10 hours over three days,” adding, “Only after passing more than 50 evaluations can an engine truly be reborn.”

After touring the factory and stepping outside, the asphalt was hot under the heat exceeding 30 degrees Celsius since morning. However, compared to the passion of the domestically produced engines alive and breathing inside the factory, it felt like nothing.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.