"Twice as Powerful Destructive Force"... The New Machine Gun Replacing the Old One After 30 Years

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The military's machine guns, which have been in service for 30 years, will be replaced with new models. The new 7.62mm machine guns have increased range and firepower compared to the outdated K-3.

According to defense company SNT Motiv on the 15th, the newly developed 7.62mm machine guns, developed independently with a total project cost of 124.2 billion won, are divided into three types: K16 (basic model), K16E (coaxial type), and K16D (crew type).

The K16 machine gun underwent testing and evaluation from December 2019 to August 2020, and a contract with the military was signed in June last year. The K16D machine gun can be used not only on Army tanks but also on Navy ships, Air Force helicopters, and Marine Corps armored vehicles.

The 7.62mm machine gun is equipped with a detachable handle for easy barrel replacement and an open-type flash suppressor to reduce muzzle flash. Compared to the K-3, its range has increased by about 30%, and its destructive power has roughly doubled. With the thermal sight system also deployed, accurate observation and firing are possible even at night or in heavy fog.

IoSystem, the producer of the thermal sight, stated, "The thermal imaging composite sight can maximize the performance of the machine gun in various battlefield environments."

SNT Motiv said, "There is a growing global demand for 7.62mm firearms that can be mounted on various weapon systems," and added, "Based on the military's deployment, we will further expand exports overseas."

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