- Source: K311 cargo truck
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. 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.
To distinguish K311 and K311A1, check the number of front windshields (two: K311 or one: A1), the number of wipers (two: K311 or three: A1), tire thickness (wider: A1), engine (V6: K311 or V4: A1), and bullbar design.
= 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. 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.
K311A1 (KM450) Cargo Truck: Upgraded variant. Introduced in 2003.
K311A1 (KM450) Chassis
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.
K312A1 (KM451) Ambulance: Upgraded variant. Introduced in 2005. It has an air conditioning system, 22 additional kits, and other life support items.
K313 (KM452) Shop Van: Introduced in 1985.
K313A1 (KM452) Shop Van: Upgraded variant. Introduced in 2007.
K314 Communication Equipment Installation Vehicle
K315 Cipher Vehicle
K316 (KM453) NBC Reconnaissance: Introduced in 1996.
K317 Biological Reconnaissance: Introduced in 2002. Developed to prepare for possible biological terrorism during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
K319 Bulletproof Truck: Introduced in 2004. Developed for use by the Zaytun Division during the Iraq War.
Other variations with unknown/no given model number
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
Taka-1 MLRS
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.
SarSar-2: Sudanese armored reconnaissance vehicle based on the KM450 chassis.
Bogdan Bars-6: Ukrainian armored utility vehicle based on KM450 chassis.
Operational history
Operators
Benin
Operated since 2018.
Botswana
Received KM450 in 2018.
Brunei
Received KM450 in 2018.
Cambodia
South Korea donated 50 K311s in 2012. Another batch of unspecified number of K311s was donated in 2017.
Central African Republic
Chile
Used by Chilean Marine Corps.
Colombia
Uses K311s.
Mali
Local assembly by Korean-Malian joint company Wad Youngsan Industries S.A. in Banankoro since 2016.
Mongolia
South Korea donated 13 K311s in 2012 along with other equipment to support Mongolian UN PKO missions in Afghanistan and Sudan.
Niger
Operated since at least 2019. Acquired 100 vehicles in July 2022. Acquired 100 vehicles in January 2023. Purchased 100 vehicles for Nigerien special forces in March 2023.
Philippines: Received 1,368 KM450s, 120 KM451s, 157 K311s, and unknown number of KM452s.
651 KM450s purchased in 2007. South Korea donated 157 K311s in 2010. 60 KM451s purchased in 2012. 717 KM450s purchased in 2015. 60 KM451s were added in 2016. Some retired K311s were offered to civilian market.
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Received in 2024.
South Korea
Operates more than 10,000 vehicles as of 2016.
South Sudan
Sudan
Local production by the Military Industry Corporation (MIC) of Sudan.
Thailand
Royal Thai Army
Ukraine
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.
= Non-state operators
=Coordination of Azawad Movements
Captured from Mali.
Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS)
Captured from Mali.
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, and these vehicles were used for attacks on Malian military that lead to additional capture or destruction of Malian owned vehicles.
Wagner Group
Provided by Mali.
Houthi
Captured from Yemeni Army.
See also
Dodge M37
Kaiser Jeep M715
