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

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.

Interoperability

5.56×45 NATO

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

Stronger than 38% of rifles
Rate of fire Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability.: 750 rpm

Stronger than 62% of rifles
Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration.: 920 m/s

Stronger than 77% of rifles

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

Stronger than 58% of rifles

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

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.: 2,000,000

Stronger than 76% of rifles
Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.: 5

Stronger than 34% of rifles

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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