K1 88-Tank - Variants and Upgrades

Variants and Upgrades

• XK1: Experimental model.
• K1: First production variant. 1,027 units built between 1985 and 1998.
  • K1M: Proposed export variant for Malaysia. In 1997, Malaysia expressed great interest in obtaining the K1, and the ROK responded by showing them the concept for K1M, which had several features not present in the baseline K1, including a LASER warning system and an air conditioning unit. It was to weigh 49.7 tons, while the total ammunition capacity would have been reduced to 41 rounds. The ROK offered a contract for 210 K1M's, but Malaysia responded that it was too many, and chose to go with Poland's PT-91M in 2003.
  • K1 PIP (Product Improvement Program): Upgraded K1.
• K1A1: First major enhanced variant. 484 units built between 1999 and 2010.
  • K1A1 PIP (Product Improvement Program): Upgraded K1A1.
• K1 ARB: The K1 Armored Recovery Vehicle is based on the K1 tank. It has a crane, winch and dozer system built on the vehicle. It was developed with assistance from Krupp Mak Maschinenbau GmbH (now Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH) between 1988 to 1992, with first deployment in 1993.
• K1 AVLB: The K1 Armoured Vehicle-Launched Bridge Vehicle variant uses a scissor-type bridge system mounted on the chassis. It was developed from 1988 to 1992 with help from Vickers Defense Systems.