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OlifantMk lA/Mk IB, South Africa
Kl (Type 88 or ROKIT)
South Korea
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The Kl MET also known as the Type 88
or Republic of Korea Indigenous Tank
(ROKIT) was developed from 1979-84 by the US General Dynamics, Land Systems Division under contract to the South Korean government to meet a requirement for a locally built MET suitable for use by the small stature South Korean personnel. Limited production began in 1985 and full series production in 1988. Three batches are believed to have been ordered Block 1-210 vehicles, Block 2-325 vehicles and Block 3-316 vehicles with detail changes between each Block,
The low profile Kl uses a hybrid torsion/hydro-pneumatic suspension system and is armed with 105 mm M68A1 rifled gun that is fitted with fume extractor, thermal sleeve and Muzzle Reference System (MRS), The ammunition carried includes HEAT, APFSDS-T, HESH and smoke types.
The fire control system is based on a CDC modified Ml ballistic computer with an environmental sensor package and the gun's MRS. The commander has a French SHM VS580-13 stabilised panoramic day sight assembly whilst the gunner has either, on Batch 1 & 3 vehicles, a stabilised Hughes Gunner's Primary sight (GPS) or, Batch 2 vehicles, a Texas Instruments stabilised Gunner's Primary Tank Thermal Sight (GPTTS) assembly. Weapon power control/turret stabilisation systems are Cadillac Gage Textron electro-hydraulic systems.
Armour protection is provided by both conventional steel armour plate and special armour configurations. An individual crew protection NBC system is installed.
The next generation Kl MET is the K1A1, this is armed with a 120 mm smoothbore gun, firing the same types of ammunition as the M1A1/M1A2 Abrams family and is fitted with full night
vision equipment and a latest standard fire control system, It is believed that the Kl Al is being developed as a response to a new North Korean MET design armed with a 125 mm gun system based on imported Russian/ Chinese technology Vicker Defence Systems of the UK have designed a 22 metre length AVLB hydraulically launched scissors bridge system for use on the Kl chassis whilst Krupp-MaK of Germany has developed an ARV variant with Hyundai. A total of 56 AVLBs and 200 ARVs have been ordered by the South Korean Army
