K311 cargo truck explained

Is Vehicle:	Yes
K311 cargo truck
Origin:	South Korea
Type:	1 1/4–ton cargo truck
Service:	K311: 1980–present K311A1: 2003–present
Used By:	See Operators
Wars:	Iraq War Moro conflict New People's Army rebellion Civil conflict in the Philippines Mali War Russo-Ukrainian War 2023 Nigerien coup d'état 2023 Nigerien crisis
Design Date:	1980
Manufacturer:	Asia Motors (1980–1999) Kia Motors (1999–present) MIC Sudan Bogdan Corporation (2015–2021) Wad Youngsan Industries (2016–present)
Unit Cost:	60 million KRW (2016)
Production Date:	K311 (1980–2003) K311A1 (2003–present)
Weight:	3,150 kg (curb)
Length:	5.46 m
Width:	2.18 m
Height:	2.45 m
Crew:	2 + 12 passengers
Engine:	K311: Kia/Mazda ZB 6-cylinder water-cooled diesel engine 115 hp K311A1: Hyundai/Mitsubishi Fuso D4DA in-line 4-cylinder diesel engine 130 hp @ 2,900 rpm KM450: Hyundai/Mitsubishi Fuso D4DA/D4DD in-line 4-cylinder diesel engine 130/139 hp @ 2,900 rpm
Transmission:	5-speed manual & 2-speed part time transfer case
Payload Capacity:	K311: 1,150 kg K311A1: 1,530 kg (paved) or 1,330 kg (unpaved) KM450: 2,500 kg (paved)
Clearance:	longitudinal slope: 60 % lateral slope: 30 % ground clearance: 0.254 m fording: 0.76 m
Vehicle Range:	K311: 450 km K311A1: 700 km KM450: 750 km
Speed:	K311: 96 km/h K311A1: 100 km/h KM450: 104 km/h
Ref:	Kia Corp^[1] ^[2] ^[3] K311A1 is the specification from 2003, and KM450 is an updated specification from unknown year.

The K311 is a 4x4 multipurpose 1 1/4–ton class cargo truck developed for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, and was introduced in 1980. It is commonly known as 4-5 (5/4) ton (4-5 톤) or military Dodge (군용 닷지), because it replaced and had similar appearance with Dodge M37. It is a modernized version of the American Kaiser Jeep M715 truck, which was also designed with an intention to replace the M37 truck.

The truck was produced by Asia Motors until Hyundai merged the company with Kia Motors in 1999.^[4] The KM450 is an export name designated by Kia Motors, and the name is used widely outside of South Korea for both old and new variants.

General Characteristics

K311A1

In June 2000, Kia Motors signed a deal with Turkish company, and began product improvement program (PIP) on K131, K311, and K511 series. The export plan was cancelled due to 2001 Turkish economic crisis; nonetheless, Kia Motors, which has already spent a lot of money, decided that it could not stop the project, and invested a total of 10.43 billion KRW to finish the program by April 2003.^[5]

The easiest way to distinguish K311 and K311A1 is by checking the number of front windshield (two pieces in K311 vs one piece in K311A1) and the number of wipers (two in K311 vs three in K311A1).

K311A2

The K311A2 is a second upgrade variant of the K311 first revealed at DX Korea 2018. It has a hardtop roof on driving section, air conditioner, and navigation system as a default.^[6] The vehicle is unlikely to be adopted by South Korea as K311s are being replaced with K151 series.

Variants

• K311 (KM450) Cargo Truck: Introduced in 1980.^{[4] [7]}
  • K311A1 (KM450) Cargo Truck: Upgraded variant. Introduced in 2003.^{[4] [7]}
  • K311A1 (KM450) Chassis^[8]
  • K311A1 (KM454) Shelter Cargo
• K312 (KM451) Ambulance: Introduced in 1982. All were converted to K311 cargo truck after replacing with K312A1 by 2014, 5 years ahead the schedule.^{[9] [7]}
  • K312A1 (KM451) Ambulance: Upgraded variant. Introduced in 2005. It has an air conditioning system, 22 additional kits, and other life support items.^{[9] [7] [10] [11]}
• K313 (KM452) Shop Van: Introduced in 1985.^{[12] [7]}
  • K313A1 (KM452) Shop Van: Upgraded variant. Introduced in 2007.^{[12] [7]}
• K314 Communication Equipment Installation Vehicle^[13]
• K315 Cipher Vehicle^[13]
• K316 (KM453) NBC Reconnaissance: Introduced in 1996.^{[7] [14]}
• K317 Biological Reconnaissance: Introduced in 2002. Developed to prepare for possible biological terrorism during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.^{[7] [15]}
• K319 Bulletproof Truck: Introduced in 2004. Developed for use by the Zaytun Division during the Iraq War.^{[7] [16]}

Other variations with unknown/no given model number^[17]

• 1¼ ton Cargo Truck - RHD
• Artillery Commanding Vehicle
• Cargo Truck - Generator
• Communication Shelter Mounted Vehicle
• Electronic Weather Monitor Mounted Vehicle
• Field Catering Truck
• Military Caravan
• Smoke Generator Mounted Vehicle

List of guns or other systems mounted on the truck

• 70 mm MLRS: (prototype)
• CS/LM5 rotary gun:
• DShK heavy machine gun:
• K-1450-06 command post:
• K4 automatic grenade launcher:
• KP-SAM MANPADS:
• KPV heavy machine gun:
• Liberator Elevated Tactics System:
• M2 Browning heavy machine gun:
• Mk 19 grenade launcher: ^[18]
• Taka-1 MLRS: ^[19]
• Taka-2 MLRS:
• ZPU anti-aircraft gun:
• ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft autocannon:

Foreign variants

• SarSar-1: Sudanese armored reconnaissance vehicle based on the KM450 chassis.^[20]
• SarSar-2: Sudanese armored reconnaissance vehicle based on the KM450 chassis.^{[21] [20]}
• Bogdan Bars-6: Ukrainian armored utility vehicle based on KM450 chassis.^[22]

Operators

• Operated since 2018.^[23]

• Received KM450 in 2018.^[24]

• Received KM450 in 2018.^[25]

• South Korea donated 50 K311s in 2012.^[26] Another batch of unspecified number of K311s was donated in 2017.^{[27] [28]}

^[29]

• Used by Chilean Marine Corps.^{[30] [31]}

• Uses K311s.

• Local assembly by Korean-Malian joint company Wad Youngsan Industries S.A. in Banankoro since 2016.^[32]

• South Korea donated 13 K311s in 2012 along with other equipment to support Mongolian UN PKO missions in Afghanistan and Sudan.^{[33] [34] [35]}

• Operated since at least 2019.^[36] Acquired 100 vehicles in July 2022.^[37] Acquired 100 vehicles in January 2023.^{[38] [39]} Purchased 100 vehicles for Nigerien special forces in March 2023.^[40]

Received 1,368 KM450s, 120 KM451s, 157 K311s, and unknown number of KM452s.

• 651 KM450s purchased in 2007.^[41] South Korea donated 157 K311s in 2010.^[42] 60 KM451s purchased in 2012.^{[43] [44]} 717 KM450s purchased in 2015.^{[45] [46]} 60 KM451s were added in 2016.^[47] Some retired K311s were offered to civilian market.

^[48]

• Received in 2024.^[49]

• Operates more than 10,000 vehicles as of 2016.^[50]

• Local production by the Military Industry Corporation (MIC) of Sudan.^[50]

• Royal Thai Army^[51]

• The KM450 chassis was used for manufacturing Bogdan Bars-6 armored vehicle since 2015. In 2021, the chassis was selected to replace R-125 KshM, which is a command vehicle variant based on the UAZ-3151. It was produced by Bogdan Motors to supply to Telekart-Prylad for installing K-1450-06 KshM on the truck. However, Bogdan Motors filed bankruptcy in same year. 20 chassis were purchased at the auction by the charity created by Serhiy Prytula, and were donated for military use.^{[52] [53] [54] [55]}

Non-state operators

Coordination of Azawad Movements

• Captured from Mali.^[56]

Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS)

• Captured from Mali.^[57]

Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM)

• All vehicles were captured from Malian military inventory. The first 5 vehicles were captured in January 2018,^[58] and these vehicles were used for attacks on Malian military that lead to additional capture or destruction of Malian owned vehicles.^{[59] [60] [61]}

Wagner Group

• Provided by Mali.

Houthi

• Captured from Yemeni Army.

See also

• Dodge M37
• Kaiser Jeep M715

Notes and References

1. Web site: K311A1 카고│기아 특수차량 사이트 . 2023-02-18 . special.kia.com.
2. Web site: K311A1 Catalogue . Kia Special Vehicles.
3. Web site: KM450 Catalogue . Kia Special Vehicles.
4. Web site: K311A1 Cargo Truck│기아 특수차량 사이트 . 2023-08-27 . special.kia.com.
5. Web site: 기아차 - 국방부 군용트럭 분쟁 . 2023-08-29 . . ko.
6. Web site: 기아자동차, DX KOREA 2018 방산전시회 참가 . 2023-08-28 . 현대자동차그룹 . ko.
7. Web site: Kia Special Vehicles Development History│기아 특수차량 사이트 . 2023-08-30 . special.kia.com.
8. Web site: K311A1 샤시/쉘터카고│기아 특수차량 사이트 . 2023-08-30 . special.kia.com.
9. Web site: K312A1 Ambulance│기아 특수차량 사이트 . 2023-08-30 . special.kia.com.
10. Web site: 2012-01-18 . 군용 구급차 세대교체..구형 구급차 조기도태 유도 . 2023-08-30 . 헤럴드경제 . ko.
11. Web site: 2012-01-18 . 軍구급차 새차 뽑는다 . 2023-08-30 . . ko.
12. Web site: K313A1 Shop Van│기아 특수차량 사이트 . 2023-08-30 . special.kia.com.
13. Web site: [운전면허] 한미자동차운전면허학원 ]. 2023-09-08 . www.hanmidrive.com . ko.
14. Web site: 국방부, 화생방 정찰차 첫 배치 . 2023-08-30 . . ko.
15. Web site: 생물학정찰차 국내기술로 개발 . 2023-08-30 . . ko.
16. Web site: 다목적 로봇·신형 방탄차량…파병 임무수행 '선봉장' . 2023-08-30 . . ko.
17. Web site: Kia Corporation's special vehicle website . 2023-09-08 . special.kia.com.
18. Web site: 2022-01-15 . Camiones, Utilitarios y MRAPs del Ejército de Colombia - Página 158 . 2023-09-16 . América Militar: información sobre defensa, seguridad y geopolítica . es-ES.
19. Web site: Sudan defense industry has developed a full range of military combat and armoured vehicles 12008151 weapons defence industry military technology UK analysis focus army defence military industry army . 2023-09-08 . www.armyrecognition.com.
20. Web site: Martin . Guy . 2017-03-08 . Sudan puts its metal on display at IDEX . 2023-09-09 . defenceWeb . en-ZA.
21. Web site: Sudan defense industry has developed a full range of military combat and armoured vehicles 12008151 weapons defence industry military technology UK analysis focus army defence military industry army . 2023-09-09 . www.armyrecognition.com.
22. Web site: Ukrainian benefactors purchase 20 Kia KM450 chassis stored at bankrupt company Bohdan Motors Ukraine - Russia conflict war 2022 analysis focus army defence military industry army . 2023-09-08 . www.armyrecognition.com.
23. Web site: 베넹향 KM450(1 1/4톤) 차량 현지 교육 실시│기아 특수차량 사이트 . 2023-09-12 . special.kia.com.
24. Web site: 2018-03-06 . 보츠와나 수출 군용트럭 운행교육 수료식 개최 . 2023-09-09 . 재외동포신문 . ko.
25. Web site: News - HANDOVER CEREMONY OF KIA MILITARY VEHICLE... . 2023-08-29 . www.mindef.gov.bn.
26. Web site: 캄보디아 군인들, 우리 군 전투화 싣는다 . 2023-08-30 . . ko.
27. Web site: 2017-03-30 . [단독] 軍, '北 전통 우방국' 껴안기…캄보디아에 군사장비 지원 ]. 2023-02-18 . . ko.
28. Web site: Cambodia receives donated Kia vehicles . 28 March 2017 . 30 June 2022 . Shephard Media.
29. Web site: eCommerce . Hip . Central Africa - 2022 Red Cross Vehicles - 4 Stamp Sheet - CA220430a Worldwide - Other, Stamp . 2023-09-09 . HipStamp . en.
30. Web site: 2022-12-13 . 기아 軍전술차량 'KLTV181' 칠레 해병대에 배치…대테러 작전 수행 . 2023-02-18 . www.theguru.co.kr . ko.
31. Web site: The Chilean Marine Corps is putting out to tender spare parts for Kia KM-420 and KM-250 vehicles . 2020-08-26 . 2021-07-30 . Infodefensa.
32. Web site: 2021-06-10 . 아프리카 말리 수출되는 '기아 KM 450트럭' 아시나요 . 2023-02-18 . 글로벌이코노믹 . ko.
33. Web site: 김 . 수한 . 2012-05-21 . 우리 군, 몽골군에 군수품 준다 . 2023-08-30 . 헤럴드경제 . ko.
34. Web site: 김 . 수한 . 2012-11-07 . 국방부, 몽골군에 안쓰는 군용품 준다 . 2023-08-30 . 헤럴드경제 . ko.
35. Web site: 2012-05-21 . 징기스칸의 후예, 한국군 장비 물려 받는다 . 2023-09-09 . 뉴데일리 . ko.
36. Web site: 니제르 KM450 정비단 방한 정비교육 실시 . 2023-09-12 . special.kia.com.
37. Web site: 2022-07-18 . Forces armées nigériennes (FAN): l'armée se dote de 100 nouveaux véhicules militaires KIA pour renforcer ses capacités opérationnelles . 2024-03-05 . ActuNiger . fr-fr.
38. Web site: 2023-01-17 . 아프리카 니제르軍, 기아 전술차량 'KM450' 100대 국경에 실전 배치 . 2023-02-18 . www.theguru.co.kr . ko.
39. Web site: 2023-01-16 . Nigér acquires 100 KIA all-terrain military vehicles . 2024-03-05 . Military Africa . en-US.
40. Web site: 2023-03-30 . Nigér special forces fielding Bulgarian made AR-M52T assault rifles . 2024-03-05 . Military Africa . en-US.
41. Web site: 기아차, 필리핀에 군용트럭 651대 수출 . 2023-08-29 . . ko.
42. Web site: 유 . 재훈 . 2020-10-03 . 한국 무기로 국방력 키우는 필리핀…함정이어 공격헬기 눈독 . 2023-02-18 . 헤럴드경제 . ko.
43. Web site: Kia KM-451 trucks enter AFP service – Philippine Defense Today (Adroth.ph) . 2024-03-07 . en-US.
44. Web site: Philippine Defense . Field Ambulance (Phase 2) Joint Acquisition Project of the Philippine Army and Philippine Marine Corps . 2024-03-07 . Philippine Defense Resource.
45. Web site: Mangosing . Frances . 2016-01-06 . AFP acquires 717 military trucks for operations, disaster response . 2023-08-29 . INQUIRER.net . en.
46. Web site: 2020-04-18 . 'Made in Korea' 호위함, 필리핀軍의 희망으로 떠올라 . 2023-02-18 . 주간동아 . ko.
47. Web site: Malyasov . Dylan . 2016-10-01 . Korea offers Light Tactical Vehicle for Philippine army . Defence Blog.
48. Web site: Rare vie of Saudi Army Kia KM450 LUV armed with ZPU-4 AA gun . 2023-09-08 . X (formerly Twitter) . en.
49. Web site: 2024-05-15 . Directeur de l’information et des Relations publiques des Armées Sénégalaises.
50. Web site: 2016-08-20 . [양욱의 Wide & Wise 군사] 우리 군의 발, 이대로 좋은가? 80년대 트럭에서 벗어나려는 한국군 ]. 2023-08-30 . it.chosun.com . ko.
51. Web site: Google Sites: Sign-in .
52. Web site: The Armed Forces of Ukraine are adopting a KIA KM450 jeep . 11 August 2021 . 30 June 2022 . Ukraine Today.
53. Web site: 2021-08-11 . 기아차, KM450 트럭, 우크라이나 군에 공급 . 2023-02-18 . 글로벌이코노믹 . ko.
54. Web site: 이 . 철재 . 2023-06-28 . 1대당 450만원…군필은 안다는 한국의 '닷지' 우크라 누빈다 . 2023-09-08 . . ko.
55. Web site: 2023-08-24 . 기아 'KM450 軍 전술차량' 우크라이나 야전 투입 . 2023-09-08 . www.theguru.co.kr . ko.
56. Web site: KM450 used by CMA . 2023-10-02 . X (formerly Twitter) . en.
57. Web site: 2020-02-21 . The Weaponry of IS West Africa: Raiders in the Sahel (Pt 3) . 2023-09-10 . Calibre Obscura . en.
58. Web site: JNIM captured 5 KM450s . 2023-09-09 . X (formerly Twitter) . en.
59. Web site: Captured KM450 in operations . 2023-09-09 . X (formerly Twitter) . en.
60. Web site: KM450 captured by JNIM at X . 2023-09-09 . X (formerly Twitter) . en.
61. Web site: 2 captured KM450s by JNIM . 2023-09-09 . X (formerly Twitter) . en.