Documents
South Korea ST Motiv
K2
The standard-issue assault rifle of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, combining a gas-operated rotating bolt with an AK-style long-stroke piston for reliability. It features a side-folding stock and remains in widespread South Korean service alongside the newer K2C1 upgrade.
In service since 1984 · 5 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
460
m range
750
rpm
920
m/s
30
rds
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
ROK export-licensed
DAPA-administered; aggressive export posture with financing/offset packages.
Channel: Government-to-government
Fielded & proven
Established · 5 operators
In service since 1984. Status: active · ~2,000,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Effective range Distance at which the weapon reliably hits point targets. Higher extends engagement envelope. | 460 m |
|---|---|
| Rate of fire Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability. | 750 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration. | 920 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 5.56×45 mm NATO |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 5.6 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 30 |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 0.97 m |
|---|---|
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 3 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
| Barrel length Barrel length, longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling. | 465 mm |
Munition
Round type, penetration, velocity and projectile data.
| Caliber Bore diameter the round is fired from. | 6 mm |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 2,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 5 |
Specifications compiled from public ST Motiv and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 Frequently asked questions
How many crew does the ST Motiv K2 require? +
The ST Motiv K2 requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the ST Motiv K2? +
The ST Motiv K2's primary weapon is the 5.56×45 mm NATO.
What is the ST Motiv K2 used for? +
The ST Motiv K2 is a rifle & long arms typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the ST Motiv K2? +
The ST Motiv K2 is operated by 5 countries.
