Daewoo Precision Industries K4

The Daewoo Precision Industries K4 (Korean: K4 고속유탄기관총; Hanja: K4 高速榴彈機關槍) is a 40×53mm high-speed automatic grenade launcher in use with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.

Daewoo Precision Industries K4 K4 고속유탄기관총
K4 automatic grenade launcher
Type	Automatic grenade launcher
Place of origin	South Korea
Service history
In service	1993–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War Libyan Civil War
Production history
Designer	Agency for Defense Development Daewoo Precision Industries
Designed	1985–1991
Manufacturer	Daewoo Precision Industries (1981–1999) Daewoo Telecom (1999–2002) Daewoo Precision (2002–2006) S&T Daewoo (2006–2012) S&T Motiv (2012–2021) SNT Motiv (2021–present)
Produced	1993–present
Specifications
Mass	34.4 kg (75.84 lb) (no tripod)
Length	1,072 mm (42.2 in)
Barrel length	412 mm (16.22 in)
Cartridge	40×53mm grenade
Caliber	40 mm
Action	API blowback
Rate of fire	325–378 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	240.8 m/s (790 ft/s) (K212) 242.3 m/s (795 ft/s) (KM383)[1]
Effective firing range	1,500 m (1,600 yd)
Maximum firing range	2,200 m (2,400 yd)
Feed system	belt-fed, 32 or 48 grenades belt
Sights	KAN/TVS-5 night vision scope can be attached[2]

The K4 was developed as a complement to the K-201 hand-held grenade launcher (attachable to the K2).

History

The K4 was first developed in 1994.^[3]

Design

Demonstration of firing of the K4 automatic grenade launcher

It has a weight of 34.4  kg (empty, without accessories) and can fire up to 325 rounds per minute with a firing range of 1.5 km. When needed to be used during night operations, a KAN/TVS-5 night vision scope can be attached onto the receiver.^[2]

The K4 is said to visually resemble the Mk 19 AGL.^[4]

Users

Map with K4 users in blue

• Iraq: Small numbers used by Iraqi special forces on Humvees.^[5]
•  Libya: First export customer, purchased the K4 in 2009.^[6]
• Mexico: Purchased since 2011.^[7]
•  Poland: Several hundred K4s ordered in 2022.^[8]
• South Korea^[2]
• Singapore: 17 K4s transferred according to a 2019 SIPRI small arms report.^[9]

See also

• AGS-17 – (Soviet Union)
• AGS-30 – (Russia)
• AGS-40 – (Russia)
• GMW – (Germany)
• Mk 19 – (United States)
• Mk 47 – (United States)
• List of API blowback firearms
• List of grenade launchers