Auto Culture SocietyCar Model Index / Your home of car data

Asia

Asia KM410-series

Asia KM410-series
Photo: Sonia Sevilla · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source ↗

The K111 "Jeep" is a 4x4 1/4-ton utility truck developed by Kia Industries and was produced by Asia Motors for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces in 1978. It is commonly known as Military Jeep (군용 지프), and its design is based on the M606 Jeeps. The export name of the vehicle is KM410.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

All Asia KM410-series data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Development

In 1974, the United States had a plan to stop supplying military vehicles to South Korea. The Republic of Korea Armed Forces continued to negotiate with the U.S., but it was not an avoidable conclusion. South Korean military was operating various types of military Jeeps such as the US M38, M151, M606, and Japanese J601. In 1975, the Ministry of Defense of South Korea made a judgement that operational capability rate of these vehicles will start dropping in 1976 as the vehicles get older and will have difficulties receiving parts for each variants. Therefore, South Korean government used the situation as an opportunity to grow domestic production of military vehicles rather than relying on foreign vehicles. On 24 April 1976, the Cabinet approved the "Domestic Production Plan for Military Vehicles (군용차량 국내생산 방안)" by the order of the President Park Chung Hee, and it was passed by the military council on 26 August. The plan was authorized on 28 September, and the Agency for Defense Development and Asia Motors were given 2 years to complete the project. The Armed Forces demanded the vehicle to be based on the M606 Jeep with increase of power supply from 12V to 24V. The M606 was chosen because of compatibility of parts with Mitsubishi J601 Jeep, and both models were operated by the military. In addition, the M606 had excellent performance, simple structure, long lasting durability, and was easy to drive. Firstly, developers disassembled a J601, and drew blueprints for each part with modifications. Then the development team placed an order to Fuji Ironworks to create a molding for the prototype. Most parts were produced by Asia Motors while parts for transmission and differential gearbox were produced by Kanda Ironworks. Through this process total of four prototypes were assem

Service history

=== Sri Lanka === The Sri Lanka Army deployed K111 (KM410) jeeps mounting Type 63 multiple rocket launchers against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) insurgents during the Sri Lankan Civil War (1983–2009).

Variants

K111 (KM410) ¼ ton Jeep (1978) K112 TOW ammunition carrier (1980) K113 TOW launcher vehicle (1980) K115 ambulance (1980) K116 (KM414) 106 mm recoilless rifle (1980) K117 searchlight vehicle (1982) KARV-1 autonomous vehicle (1992): An autonomous test vehicle. Installed computer, two cameras, two ultrasonic sensor, and one infrared sensor to the K111 for limited autonomous driving. Asia Rocsta: Civilian variant of the K111

Reference notes

== General references == Kassis, Samer (2003). 30 Years of Military Vehicles in Lebanon. Beirut: Elite Group. ISBN 9953-0-0705-5. Neville, Leigh (2018). Technicals: Non-Standard Tactical Vehicles from the Great Toyota War to modern Special Forces. New Vanguard series 257. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-4728-2251-2. Sex, Zachary; Abi-Chahine, Bassel (2021). Modern Conflicts 2 – The Lebanese Civil War, From 1975 to 1991 and Beyond. Modern Conflicts Profile Guide. Vol. II. AK Interactive. EAN 8435568306073.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

Sources

More from Asia

Asia Rocsta 1990Asia AM TruckAsia Topic