The South Korean military began deployment of its locally-developed K-16 machine gun on Wednesday, replacing the decades-old K-3 and M60 general-purpose machine guns.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) stated that the new 7.62 mm-caliber machine gun can hit targets at a distance of more than one kilometer (0.6 miles), around 30 percent farther than the K-3 light machine gun.
The K-16 also reportedly boasts destructive power nearly double that of the K-3.
The indigenous machine gun is mounted with a thermal imaging scope that combines a compact thermographic camera and an aiming reticle. It is also equipped with handles to facilitate the easier exchange of gun barrels and reduce recoil.
According to South Korean defense firm and K-16 developer SNT Motiv, the weapon has been designed with significant power, range, and reliability enhancement to support mechanized units during close combat.
“There are inquiries about K-16 machine guns from various countries, and we will expand exports based on this successful military delivery,” an SNT Motiv official said, as quoted by Aju Business Daily.
The K16 will be delivered to all the armed services by 2024.