Small Arms Defense Journal
No Result
View All Result
Sat , May 31, 2025
  • Login
  • Home
  • Advertise
  • Brief
  • Category
    • Ammunition
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Features
    • Grenades & Rockets
    • History
    • Industry Profiles
    • Interviews
    • Military Museums
    • New Products
    • Reviews
    • Show Reports
    • Show Videos
    • Suppressors
  • Press Releases
  • Search By Issue
    • Volume 1
      • V1N1
      • V1N2
      • V1N3
      • V1N4
    • Volume 2
      • V2N1
      • V2N2
      • V2N3
      • V2N4
    • Volume 3
      • V3N1
      • V3N2
      • V3N3
      • V3N4
    • Volume 4
      • V4N1
      • V4N2
      • V4N3
      • V4N4
    • Volume 5
      • V5N1
      • V5N2
      • V5N3
      • V5N4
    • Volume 6
      • V6N1
      • V6N2
      • V6N3
      • V6N4
    • Volume 7
      • V7N1
      • V7N2
      • V7N3
      • V7N4
      • V7N5
    • Volume 8
      • V8N1
      • V8N2
      • V8N3
      • V8N4
      • V8N5
      • V8N6
    • Volume 9
      • V9N1
      • V9N2
      • V9N3
      • V9N4
      • V9N5
      • V9N6
    • Volume 10
      • V10N1
      • V10N2
      • V10N3
      • V10N4
      • V10N5
      • V10N6
    • Volume 11
      • V11N1
      • V11N2
      • V11N3
      • V11N4
      • V11N5
      • V11N6
    • Volume 12
      • V12N1
      • V12N2
      • V12N3
      • V12N4
      • V12N5
      • V12N6
    • Volume 13
      • V13N1
      • V13N2
      • V13N3
      • V13N4
      • V13N5
      • V13N6
    • Volume 14
      • V14N1
      • SADJ – V14N2
      • SADJ – V14N3
  • Trade Show Information
    • Show Calendar
    • Africa
      • Africa Aerospace & Defence – Centurion, South Africa
    • Asia
      • Asia China Police Expo – Beijing, China
      • BRIDEX – Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam
      • Defense & Security – Bangkok, Thailand
      • Defense Services Asia – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
        • DSA Pre Show Report : EXPECT THE BEST!
      • IDEAS – Karachi, Pakistan
      • INDO DEFENCE – Jakarta, Indonesia
      • TADTE – Taipei, Taiwan
    • Europe
      • Arms & Security – Kyiv, Ukraine
      • ASDA – Split, Croatia
      • B&T Police Equipment Show – Thun, Switzerland
      • BSDA – Bucharest, Romania
      • DSEI – London, United Kingdom
      • Eurosatory – Paris, France
        • Successful 27th edition of EUROSATORY after a 4-year absence!
        • EUROSATORY 2022
      • Expomil – Bucharest, Romania
      • Future Forces – Prague, Czech Republic
      • IDEB – Bratislava, Slovak Republic
      • IDEF – Istanbul, Turkey
      • IWA OutdoorClassics – Nuremberg, Germany
      • Milipol – Paris, France
      • MSPO – Kielce, Poland
        • MSPO 2023: Mission is Underway
        • MSPO 2023 – Lead Nation Exhibition Update: Preparations Are Underway
      • Partner – Belgrade, Serbia
      • Symposia at Shrivenham – Shrivenham, UK
    • Middle East
      • IDEX – Abu Dhabi, UAE
      • ISDEF – Tel Aviv, Israel
    • North America
      • Modern Day Marine – Quantico, VA
      • SHOT Show – Las Vegas, NV
    • South America
      • FIDAE – Santiago, Chile
      • LAAD – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
      • SITDEF – Lima, Peru
        • SITDEF – NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2021
  • About us
  • Home
  • Advertise
  • Brief
  • Category
    • Ammunition
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Features
    • Grenades & Rockets
    • History
    • Industry Profiles
    • Interviews
    • Military Museums
    • New Products
    • Reviews
    • Show Reports
    • Show Videos
    • Suppressors
  • Press Releases
  • Search By Issue
    • Volume 1
      • V1N1
      • V1N2
      • V1N3
      • V1N4
    • Volume 2
      • V2N1
      • V2N2
      • V2N3
      • V2N4
    • Volume 3
      • V3N1
      • V3N2
      • V3N3
      • V3N4
    • Volume 4
      • V4N1
      • V4N2
      • V4N3
      • V4N4
    • Volume 5
      • V5N1
      • V5N2
      • V5N3
      • V5N4
    • Volume 6
      • V6N1
      • V6N2
      • V6N3
      • V6N4
    • Volume 7
      • V7N1
      • V7N2
      • V7N3
      • V7N4
      • V7N5
    • Volume 8
      • V8N1
      • V8N2
      • V8N3
      • V8N4
      • V8N5
      • V8N6
    • Volume 9
      • V9N1
      • V9N2
      • V9N3
      • V9N4
      • V9N5
      • V9N6
    • Volume 10
      • V10N1
      • V10N2
      • V10N3
      • V10N4
      • V10N5
      • V10N6
    • Volume 11
      • V11N1
      • V11N2
      • V11N3
      • V11N4
      • V11N5
      • V11N6
    • Volume 12
      • V12N1
      • V12N2
      • V12N3
      • V12N4
      • V12N5
      • V12N6
    • Volume 13
      • V13N1
      • V13N2
      • V13N3
      • V13N4
      • V13N5
      • V13N6
    • Volume 14
      • V14N1
      • SADJ – V14N2
      • SADJ – V14N3
  • Trade Show Information
    • Show Calendar
    • Africa
      • Africa Aerospace & Defence – Centurion, South Africa
    • Asia
      • Asia China Police Expo – Beijing, China
      • BRIDEX – Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam
      • Defense & Security – Bangkok, Thailand
      • Defense Services Asia – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
        • DSA Pre Show Report : EXPECT THE BEST!
      • IDEAS – Karachi, Pakistan
      • INDO DEFENCE – Jakarta, Indonesia
      • TADTE – Taipei, Taiwan
    • Europe
      • Arms & Security – Kyiv, Ukraine
      • ASDA – Split, Croatia
      • B&T Police Equipment Show – Thun, Switzerland
      • BSDA – Bucharest, Romania
      • DSEI – London, United Kingdom
      • Eurosatory – Paris, France
        • Successful 27th edition of EUROSATORY after a 4-year absence!
        • EUROSATORY 2022
      • Expomil – Bucharest, Romania
      • Future Forces – Prague, Czech Republic
      • IDEB – Bratislava, Slovak Republic
      • IDEF – Istanbul, Turkey
      • IWA OutdoorClassics – Nuremberg, Germany
      • Milipol – Paris, France
      • MSPO – Kielce, Poland
        • MSPO 2023: Mission is Underway
        • MSPO 2023 – Lead Nation Exhibition Update: Preparations Are Underway
      • Partner – Belgrade, Serbia
      • Symposia at Shrivenham – Shrivenham, UK
    • Middle East
      • IDEX – Abu Dhabi, UAE
      • ISDEF – Tel Aviv, Israel
    • North America
      • Modern Day Marine – Quantico, VA
      • SHOT Show – Las Vegas, NV
    • South America
      • FIDAE – Santiago, Chile
      • LAAD – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
      • SITDEF – Lima, Peru
        • SITDEF – NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2021
  • About us
No Result
View All Result
Small Arms Defense Journal
No Result
View All Result
Phoenix Ads Image
Home Search By Issue

ADEX 2019 NEW DEFENCE DEVELOPMENT AT SEOUL ADEX 2019

by Heebum Hong
13 October, 2023
in Search By Issue, V12N1, Volume 12
0 0
0
0
SHARES
79
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

ADEX 2019 was held at Seoul airport from 15 to 20 October. This airport is in fact a military air base of the ROKAF (Republic of Korea Air Force), not an ordinary passenger airport. It’s only open to air force aircrews and real VIPs, like the Korean president, government officials or foreign dignitaries. But biannually, part of this unusual airport is opened to the public for the ADEX event.

ADEX means “Aerospace & Defense Exhibition.” The show began as the Seoul Airshow in 1996 and gradually evolved into an airshow / defense exhibition. It is now by far the most important and largest defense expo in Korea and has a large display of ground equipment and small arms. 430 companies from 34 countries participate, and a few hundred thousand spectators visit each year.

While the show’s main participant target is the Korean military procurement market, it also drew many other countries’ interests as well, since many Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE show considerable interest in Korean defense products as do many Southeast Asian countries. Korean defense products like supply ships or self-propelled Howitzers are also constantly sold to non-Asian countries, such as Norway, Finland and Poland, and now the Australian Army is showing a strong interest in Hanwha Defense’s AS21 “Redback” IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle).

Hanwha Defense AS21 Redback IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle). Developed for Australian army to compete their Land 400 combat vehicle program.

And how about small arms? Unlike other fields, especially aerospace, where many prominent foreign companies were represented, small arms were almost monopolized by Korean companies, namely S&T Motiv and Dasan Co. Actually, until 2016, small arms were virtually S&T Motiv’s monopoly, except a small batch of counter-terrorist weapons, but now Dasan also can supply military small arms if they win a bid, since as of 2016, Dasan Co. also got a license to supply the Korean military. So now the two companies have to compete against each other.

This provided considerable change this year, and the biggest change came from S&T Motiv. As Daewoo Precision’s successor (actually the same company with a different name and ownership), their portfolio didn’t change much since the early 1990s. Most of the weapons, especially rifles, carbines and machine guns, were simply variations of the so-called “K Series,” namely K1, K2 and K3. So, even when the ROK Army Special Forces are currently trying to find new carbines to replace the current K1A “SMG” (while it’s a 5.56 carbine, ROK nomenclature is “SMG,” because it mainly replaced the M3 Grease guns), S&T Motiv originally suggested a modified (shortened) K2 rifle, namely the K2C carbine or its variant. But things changed drastically this year.

S&T Motiv’s STC-16, which is basically a piston-driven AR carbine.

This time, surprisingly, S&T Motiv showed us the new STC-16 carbine, which is basically an AR-based, piston-driven carbine. While K2 is also based upon the AR design, STC-16 is much more like “S&T’s interpretation of [the] HK416” rather than another variation of the K1/K2 series. This is because the competitor, Dasan, is now suggesting the DAR-15P carbine, another AR-piston carbine variant to customers, and the customers (especially Spec Ops guys) like DAR-15P more than their current “K Series” weapons. S&T Motiv felt it was time to have another platform other than K1/K2.

Accessories and barrel length variations for STC-16.

S&T Motiv also displayed some other surprising products, this time, an AK! And this time it’s purely for the export market. S&T Motiv is now trying to expand its export sales, since the ROK military has more than enough small arms. From the mid-1970s (when the current S&T Motiv was then government-owned Busan arsenal) to today, more than two million rifles and carbines (M16A1, K1/K2 variants) have been produced and procured by Korean military and police. Now the Korean military is downsizing from 600,000 to 500,000; it’s no wonder their procurement now is significantly reduced. S&T Motiv is still making K2C1 rifles (a flat-top variant of the K2 rifle), but K2C1 production is close to the end, and after that, no large-scale military contract is scheduled. So, S&T Motiv is now trying to make an export-specific portfolio, including an AK series and AR series. Actually, this time, S&T Motiv even showed us its own copy of the M4 carbine (STR-19), complete with the original direct impingement gas system!

STR-R19A1 carbine. A prototype AR carbine with a short-stroke gas piston. It is a prototype for the export market like the STR-K17 and STR-K18.

Not only do S&T Motiv and Dasan compete for rifles and carbines, S&T Motiv and Dasan also now compete with each other for new machine guns. Now the ROK Army is looking for new 7.62NATO medium machine guns to replace M60s, and two companies are seriously competing with each other. While S&T Motiv is suggesting the K12 variant for infantry and vehicle mount, Dasan made its suggestions as well, under the name of XK-16 (infantry) and XK-17 (vehicle/aircraft). Dasan’s XK-16/-17 are actually variations of the FN MAG, with a few minor modifications. Unlike the original, Dasan’s are side-ejecting, and the barrel change system also has been changed to be similar to S&T Motiv’s K15 machine gun. Also, the XK-17 has a similar stock/spade grip system, which can be converted into a ground role immediately after removing the spade grip and extending the telescopic stock.

STM-21 Light Machine Gun. This is a 7.62mm NATO version of K-15 LMG, basically a “Korean interpretation of Maximi”
S&T Motiv’s STG-20 mock-up. It’s a kind of a K11, only without the 5.56mm gun section.

While this sounds ambitious, I don’t think it will really go anywhere; K11 has virtually failed, the ROK Army only bought a handful and wants no more, and since XM-25 also failed in the U.S. Army, I don’t think the ROK Army would seriously invest in a “Korean XM-25.”

Foreign Companies at ADEX

While guns themselves are a monopoly of Korean companies, optics and other accessories are not. Actually, optics was also a monopoly of a handful of Korean companies, but after many scandals and defective products, foreign companies also have a chance. There’s a considerable chance, because now the ROK military is trying to renovate its infantry equipment under the project “Warrior Platform.” ROK infantry equipment is outdated almost 20 years compared to top NATO countries, so the ROK military is trying to tighten the gap. Actually, this year, L3 Harris, Trijicon and Aimpoint set up booths and showed their products at ADEX. Also, while not having its own booth, Holosun products were shown on the Army’s own Warrior Platform booth as samples. They are not officially adopted, only supplied as samples, and it’s hard to imagine the ROK Army buying a considerable number of them. Surefire and OSS also supplied a small batch of suppressors as samples.

New Mortars

S&T Heavy Industry’s 120mm mortar system. Using a rifled mortar round (compatible with French 120mm) and semiautomatic loading system, it is automatically laid by computer.

While not small arms, we also have two new mortars. One is S&T heavy industry’s (not the S&T Motiv, but within the same S&T conglomerate) 120mm semiautomatic mortar. Using a French-developed 120mm rifled mortar round, it can fire up to 13km (with a range-extended round) with a maximum fire rate of 10 rounds per minute. It uses a semiautomatic loading system and can be mounted on a 5-ton truck or on armored vehicles. The Korean Army will buy them as a self-propelled mortar for mechanized units.

HYUNDAI WIA’s lightweight 81mm mortar KM114. Using high-tech materials like Titanium and Aluminum alloys, it weighs 20% less than the previous model (the KM187) and can be laid by a high-tech computerized fire control system.

The other mortar is HYUNDAI WIA’s KM114 lightened 81mm mortar. They produced the KM187 mortar, 81mm, for a long time since the 1990s. While the KM187 can fire range-extended ammo for the M252 mortar, the KM187 was somewhat heavier than M252, since KM187 was a lengthened version of the obsolete U.S. M29 mortar. KM114 is lightened version of the KM187, which reduced 20% of its weight using Titanium and Aluminum alloys for many parts. It also uses a high-tech digital control system, which helps very fast gun-laying and allows for less crews. The ROK Army is planning to use the mortar as a company level support weapon, replacing current 60mm mortars.

SHOW REPORT

Location

ADEX mostly has been, and will be, held at the Seoul airport. It’s not a commercial airport, but actually an airbase of ROKAF, which is used by the ROK government for VIPs. Also, while the name is Seoul Airport, it’s not in Seoul: it actually is in Seongnam City, which is a suburb of Seoul. So, locals will more easily understand when you say, “Seongnam Airbase.”

Website

seouladex.com

Contact

ADEX

Email: promotion@seouladex.com

Next Show

October 2021

Focus

This program is especially adapted to SMEs looking for contractors. The main advantage of this service being that participants receive pre-arranged meetings with business partners—the ideal occasion to identify future commercial partners and to meet buyers.

Dress

Business attire.

Accommodations

Finding good tourist hotels in Seongnam is not easy, but you can find many good hotels in southern Seoul, which is close to the site, for around $100 to $150 USD per night. There are less expensive ones, but you may have a language barrier at such places. But even cheap hotels are quite safe, so you can leave your bags at your room.

Transportation

The best option is taking the subway (Line No.8 or Bundang line), off the train at Moran (line 8) or Taepyeong (Bundang line) station and take a shuttle bus or taxi. I would recommend a taxi, since it’s not that expensive, no tips required, and it’ll take you right in front of the gate. You can take a rental car, but driving on congested Korean roads with sometimes violent Korean drivers, is one of the last things to be recommended in Korea.

Power & Plug Types

220v AC, with EU-type electricity plugs.

Currency

Korean won. The U.S. dollar is not accepted at most places, but you can use most U.S. credit cards at almost any place. Check xe.com for exchange rates.

Country Warnings

Violent crimes against foreigners are rare; actually, South Korea is one of the safest countries to visit. Even when crime happens, virtually no firearms are involved.

Tourism

You can visit many interesting places in Seoul; there’s a very large war memorial museum in Seoul, which is worth visiting.

Other tips

Avoid weekends and Friday to visit ADEX: visitors are heavily concentrated during those 3 days, especially on Saturday and Sunday (public days).

Author

  • Heebum Hong
    Heebum Hong

Tags: 2019Heebum HongV12N1

Related Posts

Features

Behind the Razor Wire: The U.S. Army’s Asymmetric Warfare Training Center

by SADJ Staff
24 February, 2023
Author Name

Big Bore, Small Noise: VKS Large Caliber Silenced Sniper Rifle

by Maxim Popenker
15 August, 2023
Author Name

Interview with Buddy Howells (Grandson of Col. George M. Chinn)

by George Kontis, P.E.
15 August, 2023
Features

The Infantry Soldiers’ Multi-Purpose Shoulder-Launched Munitions

by SADJ Staff
24 February, 2023
New Products

XADO SnipeX

by SADJ Staff
24 February, 2023

RECENT POSTS

Daniel Defense PCC SBR- The Pistol Caliber Carbine Taken to a Higher Level

27 June, 2024

True Velocity, FN America Announce Global Manufacturing Partnership on Lightweight Medium Machine Gun

18 June, 2024

CZ’s New Modular, Multi-Caliber CZ BREN 3 Rifle

17 June, 2024

Reaching 2 Miles and Beyond: A Review of Barrett’s New MRADELR Rifle

11 June, 2024

FN Updates EVOLYS Ergonomics

6 June, 2024
Small Arms Defense Journal

Welcome to Small Arms Defense Journal‘s digital presence! The contributors to this site come from many walks of life, but we all have common ground; the study of small arms technology and history.

POPULAR CATEGORIES

  • Ammunition
  • Doctrine
  • Foreign Military
  • Grenades & Rockets
  • Machine Gun Memorabilia
  • Suppressors

SITE LINKS

  • About us
  • Editorials
  • Reviews

CONTACT DETAILS

  • Phone :+1(702)565-0746
  • Email : office@sadefensejournal.com
  • Web : www.chipotlepublishing.com
  • Chipotle Publishing, LLC 631 N. Stephanie St., No. 282, Henderson, NV 89014
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

© 2024 Chipotle Publishing | All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • About Small Arms Review
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Brief
  • Home
  • Observe
  • Show Schedule
  • test
  • Trade Show Information
    • Africa
      • Africa Aerospace & Defence – Centurion, South Africa
    • Asia
      • Asia China Police Expo – Beijing, China
      • BRIDEX – Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam
      • Defense & Security – Bangkok, Thailand
      • Defense Services Asia – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
      • IDEAS – Karachi, Pakistan
      • INDO DEFENCE – Jakarta, Indonesia
      • TADTE – Taipei, Taiwan
    • Australia
    • Europe
      • Arms & Security – Kyiv, Ukraine
      • ASDA – Split, Croatia
      • B&T Police Equipment Show – Thun, Switzerland
      • BSDA – Bucharest, Romania
      • DSEI – London, United Kingdom
      • Eurosatory – Paris, France
      • Expomil – Bucharest, Romania
      • Future Forces – Prague, Czech Republic
      • IDEB – Bratislava, Slovak Republic
      • IDEF – Istanbul, Turkey
      • IWA OutdoorClassics – Nuremberg, Germany
      • Milipol – Paris, France
      • MSPO – Kielce, Poland
      • MSPO 2021: Defence industry giants – solid as a rock
      • MSPO 2022 — South Korea Holds the MSPO’s Lead Nation Exhibition for the Second Time
      • MSPO 2022: SHOW REPORT
      • Partner – Belgrade, Serbia
      • Symposia at Shrivenham – Shrivenham, UK
    • Middle East
      • IDEX – Abu Dhabi, UAE
      • ISDEF – Tel Aviv, Israel
      • SOFEX – Amman, Jordan
    • North America
      • Modern Day Marine – Quantico, VA
      • SHOT Show – Las Vegas, NV
    • Show Calendar
    • South America
      • FIDAE – Santiago, Chile
      • LAAD – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
      • SITDEF – Lima, Peru
  • V12N3

© 2024 Chipotle Publishing | All Rights Reserved