Daewoo K11 - Future Rifle of South Korea

In the United States ran in the 90 the last century, advanced personal weapons program of the individual. The project known by the acronym XM29 OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon) was trying to combine a classic assault rifle, grenade launcher firing grenades and advanced programmable optical sight. Development, however, was the enormous cost and weight (as is unfortunately the rule) is stopped. It does, however, that elsewhere in the world with a similar concept has already been addressed. An example is South Korea and its new personal weapon individuals Daewoo K11, which follows the practical idea of ​​the original canceled U.S. OICW project.

Daewoo K11 Rifle 

Vs. OICW. Daewoo K11

The creators of Daewoo K11 rifles are really inspired by the U.S. program OICW . Daewoo K11 is a combination of classic assault rifle caliber 5.56 mm and 20 mm grenade launcher located above the main. Grenade can shoot different ammunition, from classical to pushing programmable, exploding in the air.

Compared OICW there is a difference. Grenade in the Korean semi-automatic weapon is, but it works on the principle of repetition after each shot must reach the end of the lever movement - like a standard repeating rifles. Such a solution is not as effective as self-loading mechanism, but is cheaper and more reliable.

An integral and complex part of the optical sight that combines classic sighting system for an assault rifle, a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer. According to data from the laser rangefinder ballistic computer that not only corrects the reticle for an assault rifle, but also programs fuse time special 20 mm grenades.

Daewoo K11 rifle and 20mm grenade programmable charge + 5.56 mm / Daewoo

Rifle 5.56 mm caliber classical works on the principle of collection of gases from the barrel. All controls are on the left side of the rifle. There is a switch-fire, which has a total of four positions. Ensure automatic shooting, the three-dose and early activation of the grenade. As the 5.56 mm rifle and grenade launcher are controlled the same run, can not shoot at the same time, but it is always a necessary switch to choose whether we want to use a rifle or grenade launcher.

The whole revolutionary weapon, especially a programmable grenades. Like the American project XM25(using 25 mm grenades) Daewoo K11 rifle can interfere with enemies hidden behind an obstacle. 20 mm caliber grenade is not as effective, but can kill the enemy within 6 meters and can seriously injure a radius of 8 meters.

Dangerous development Daewoo K11

The Daewoo K11 rifle is also related to a report last week showing that the development of advanced weapons is not a cakewalk. During the test firing of the end of last year, the 20 mm grenade explosion unfortunate directly in arms. The soldier operating the weapon suffered severe cuts on his hands and face.Fortunately, his life was threatened.

Soldier firing a rifle K11 Daewoo / Daewoo

According to Western commentators soldier survived (ironically) only thanks to a weak 20 mm grenade killing effect and probably due to the fact that the explosion occurred in the solid titanium barrel. By all accounts it appears that the ballistic computer for some reason, set the timer to time the grenade 0th So there was an explosion at the same time, when the operator pulled the trigger.

Despite this unfortunate event weapons development still continues. Already, however, is almost certain to replace gun assault rifles in the South Korean army in the ratio 1:1. Whether it is due to the weight of 6.1 kg (empty), the complexity and cost. The weapon will have a classic infantry squad apparently the same special treatment as, for example, machine guns or rifles for precision shooting.

At present it is generally introduced 39 pieces in the  South Korean army , of which 20 were directly tested weapons in Afghanistan. Daewoo K11 test prototypes were ordered 40 pieces of also by the United Arab Emirates.