Formed on 1 November 1992, Dasan Machineries is an important small arms manufacturer in South Korea. It tends to focus on export markets, whilst competitor SNT Motiv concentrates on serving the Republic of Korea (ROK) Armed Forces. However, there is a lot of crossover, since Dasan has regularly subcontracted to SNT Motiv for domestic contracts, plus it is offering complete weapons to the country’s military.

At the Seoul ADEX 2023 exhibition, held from 17-22 October, Dasan Machineries’ focus was on promoting the DSAR-15 family of weapons, these being an evolution of the ubiquitous AR-15 series. Prominent was the base DSAR-15P assault rifle. Kang W. Lee, Dasan’s Sales Division Executive Director, said the DSAR-15 has been continuously improved since it entered the international market in 2016. He also said the weapon had been sold to many countries – more on that later.

At Seoul ADEX 2023, a DSAR-15P with 14.5-inch barrel was on display. This rifle with gas-operated piston (note that the “P” designation in its name stands for piston) and rotating bolt, and it has a length of 33in (840mm) and weight of 6.8lb (3.1kg). It features an ambidextrous charging handle and collapsible butt stock with six positions. Its effective range is listed as 547y (500m).

Significantly, the DSAR-15PC 5.56 x 45mm rifle was selected in June 2020 to meet a requirement for 16,300 new carbines for South Korea’s Special Warfare Command. After a subsequent development and evaluation period, these weapons would have begun to replace the incumbent K1A carbine. The DSAR-15PC with 11.5-inch barrel had won out over the competing SNT Motiv STC16 for this program.

However, this Special Operations Submachine gun Type I program was suspended after an investigation revealed that Dasan had gained unauthorized access to government documentation about the type of weapons being sought. The president of Dasan and a former army officer were later charged. The country’s Defense Acquisition and Program Administration (DAPA) subsequently halted this procurement effort in June 2021, though it was recently relaunched.

The delay has likely put competitor SNT Motiv in a better position, as in the interim it has won the Special Operations Submachinegun Type II program with its STC16 5.56mm carbine. When the Type I program was launched, SNT Motiv’s weapon was only in prototype form, whereas now it is fully developed. One source told Small Arms Defense Journal that some of these shenanigans may be politically motivated.

Also on show at Seoul ADEX was the DSAR-15PQ 5.56mm rifle, with the “Q” in its nomenclature denoting a quick-release barrel. In advertisements at the show, this DSAR-15PQ was also referred to as the NGAR, standing for Next-Generation Assault Rifle. Unveiled just last year, the DSAR-15PQ is available with 7.5-inch, 10.5-inch, 11.5-inch, 14.5-inch or 16-inch barrels. According to Dasan literature, the version with an 11.5-inch barrel weighs 6.6lb (3kg), is 28.9in (733.5mm) long and has an effective range of 437y (400m). Its rate of fire is listed as 750-850 rounds per minute. A silencer has been developed for it too. Kang said the DSAR-15PQ has already been tested by the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA).

Also newly exhibited was the DSAR-762, a 7.62 x 51mm rifle with a 16-inch barrel, after its development was completed last year. It has an effective range of 875y (800m). It uses a gas piston and can fire on fully automatic, but its recoil is more like that of a 5.56mm weapon, Kang noted. The DSAR-762 weighs 8.8lb (4kg) and measures 35.5in (902mm) long, plus it is available with a longer 20-inch barrel.

Also available is the DSSR-762 semiautomatic designated marksman rifle chambered in 7.62 x 51mm. This gas piston-operated weapon has a muzzle brake, adjustable bipod and 20-inch hammer-forged barrel to create an 875y (800m) range. Its overall length is 40.7in (1.035m), it weighs 9.6lb (4.3kg) and 5-, 10- or 20-round magazines are available.

Elsewhere, the DSAR-47 7.62 x 39mm rifle with 14.5-inch or 16-inch barrel is targeted at countries that use AK-47 weapons and ammunition. Nonetheless, it is still based on the AR-15/M4, so it features interchangeable parts. Dasan completed the DSAR-47 last year and it is now in the testing phase. The version with a 16-inch barrel weighs 7.5lb (3.4kg), and it offers a 383y (350m) range.

Dasan has won sizeable contracts overseas, plus it has a factory in the U.S. known as Alpha Foxtrot. The facility is located in Duluth, Georgia.

One of Dasan’s most recent successes was a deal from the Philippine National Police for 5,755 DSAR-15 rifles with 14.5-inch barrels and a full rail interface system. The rifles will be distributed by United Defense Manufacturing Corporation in the Philippines, in what SADJ understands is Dasan’s first major deal with Manila. The national police force showed off its first batch of DSAR-15s on 2 October. Another known Asian customer of Dasan rifles is the Indonesian Coast Guard.

Dasan also exhibited 5.56mm and 7.62mm versions of its belt-fed XR-17 machine gun, which use a long-stroke gas piston operating system. First shown at DX Korea last year, the latter medium machine gun weighs 13.9lb (6.3kg) and is 45.3 (1.15m) long. With a rate of fire of 550-650 rounds per minute, it has a maximum effective range of 875y (800m). As for the XR-17 light machine gun, it is 39.4in (1m) long and has an 18-inch barrel. The “X” in the designation shows that the XR-17 is still in development. It will compete directly against the K15 5.56mm light machine gun and K16 7.62mm medium machine gun from SNT Motiv.

Unfortunately, Dasan has attracted some criticism over the quality of its weapons, both domestically and internationally. A prime example was a sale to Finland with rifles patterned after the AK, following a public tender. These were for the Maanpuolustuskoulutusyhdistys (MPK, which translates as the National Defense Training Association of Finland), which is responsible for providing military training to Finnish citizens. The MPK wanted a rifle that would mimic in-service RK 62 and RK 95 7.62mm rifles, and Dasan was selected to supply DAK47 weapons in 2020. They had several features such an adjustable folding buttstock, polymer pistol grip and aperture rear sight to replicate Finnish weapons.

However, there was a mixed reception to Dasan’s AK clone, with charges of flimsiness and production quality issues. A translated article on MPK’s official website dated 4 May 2022 stated: “In 2020, the rifles acquired from South Korea have not met expectations. Within a short period of time, there have been four malfunctions leading to breakage of the MPK rifle frame, which is why the weapons are prohibited from use. However, according to MPK, no personal injuries have occurred.”

The MPK pulled these weapons from service in the volunteer training force. Then, in January 2023, the MPK announced that Dasan would recall the rifles and provide an AR-15-based variant instead. Simultaneously, the MPK will obtain new AR-15-based 5.56mm rifles from Sako.

Another South Korean firm to exhibit at Seoul ADEX 2023 was K-Tech Firearms, which was only established in 2018. In 2020, DAPA licensed K-Tech to produce firearms, and in March this year it signed a contract with Caracal to promote its weapons in the South Korean market. At the Seoul exhibition, K-Tech had on display KCAR 816 and KCAR 817 rifles, which were clearly Caracal offerings.

Competitors for the aforementioned and resurrected Special Operations Submachinegun Type I program are almost certainly set to include SNT Motiv, Dasan Machineries, and K-Tech.

SNT Motiv, South Korea’s best-known small arms manufacturer, announced during Seoul ADEX 2023, held from 17-22 October, that its STC16 carbine had received the nomenclature K13 from the Ministry of National Defense after being selected for use by the country’s Special Warfare Command.

SNT Motiv stated, “The K13 submachine gun, which was selected for the Special Operations Submachine Gun Type II project, was developed with proprietary technology by applying global trends in rifle development, and accuracy and durability were improved based on the latest manufacturing technology.”

“Following the determination of its combat capability last April,” the manufacturer continued, “a supply contract was signed with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), and it is scheduled to be put into service starting in December. Based on this, SNT Motiv plans to invest more actively in research and development for its next rifle business.”

The K13 5.56mm carbine will be allocated to special forces units to replace the badly aging K1/K1A submachine gun that has served more than 40 years. The first units to receive it will be the 13th Special Mission Brigade of the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA), the Special Warfare Flotilla of the ROK Navy, and the Combat Control Team of the ROK Air Force.

South Korea was originally planning to acquire a foreign-made weapon such as the HK416 or SIG MCX for this requirement, but the STC16 was deemed acceptable after it underwent a yearlong evaluation to ensure it met tough military standards. Acquisition of this weapon is a major step forward for ROK special forces, as the K1A was inadequate for the demands of contemporary warfare.

Small Arms Defense Journal understands that some 1,710 K13s have been ordered under an initial contract. While this number is relatively small, it does set a foundation for further sales as the ROK military seeks to field a next generation of carbines, plus it encourages SNT Motiv to actively sell the weapon on the export market.

In terms of nomenclature, “ST” denotes that a weapon is a company offering, while a “K” prefix is only provided once it is officially adopted by the South Korean military. The STC16 is modular, so components such as barrels, handguards and stocks are interchangeable. A suppressor will also be issued as standard. The carbine uses a short-stroke gas-operated piston.

It is chambered in 5.56 x 45mm caliber, and it weighs 6.6 pounds (3kg). The free-floating barrel is available in three lengths: 10.5-inch (265mm), 11.5-inch (292mm) and 14.5 inch (368mm), creating a weapon that measures between 29.5 and 31.9 inches (750 and 810mm) long overall. The weapons being delivered to ROK special forces all possess the 11.5-inch barrel.

MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails over the receiver and forend at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions allow various auxiliary devices to be attached, plus there is a foldable iron sight. It has ambidextrous control handles, magazine catches, and charging handles. The extendable stock has five positions, the handguard is compatible with the M4 series, and it is also useable with polymer magazines.

While the STC16/K13 took pride of place on SNT Motiv’s stand at Seoul ADEX 2023, other relatively new weapons on display were the STSM21 submachine gun, the hammerless STP9 pistol, the K15 and K15PARA 5.56mm light machine guns, the STSR23 7.62mm semiautomatic sniper rifle and the K16 7.62mm medium machine gun. The latter was launched last year, and the K15 in 2020.

The aforementioned STSR23 semiautomatic sniper rifle fires 7.62 x 51mm (308 Winchester) rounds. Although its first development phase is completed, a company spokesperson said the sniper rifle will continue to undergo further refinements; the project only commenced earlier this year. The STSR23 weighs 14.3 pounds (6.5kg) and is available with either a 20-inch (508mm) or 24-inch (609mm) barrel to give an overall length of 42.9 or 44.1 inches (1.09m or 1.12m) respectively. The company remains hopeful it will be eventually adopted by the ROK military as a replacement for the K14 7.62mm bolt-action sniper rifle.

The STSR20 12.7mm anti-materiel rifle is also in development as a company project, and a prototype was displayed at the Seoul exhibition. This rifle has a 29-inch (736.6mm) barrel, and it weighs approximately 30.9 pounds (14kg).

Moving on, the STSM21 is a 9 x 19mm submachine gun weighing 6.6 pounds (3kg) for close-quarters battle. Its free-floating barrel length is 8.6 inches (220mm) and, overall, the STSM21 measures 24-26.4 inches (610-670mm) long. SNT Motiv started development of this weapon with delayed blowback operating system in 2021.

The STP9 9mm striker-fired pistol was unveiled at DX Korea 2022, while the one shown at Seoul ADEX 2023 was stamped with the description STP9A. It weighs 1.6 pounds (740g) and has a 4.3-inch (109mm) barrel. Interestingly, it features an M59-compatible magazine, which would permit the ROK military to reuse existing pistol magazines. Although no tender exercise has yet been announced, SNT Motiv is hoping it could potentially replace the K5 pistol widely used by South Korea’s military.

Although SNT Motiv emerged triumphant with its STC16 in the Special Operations Submachinegun Type II program, the earlier Type I project has still not been resolved. This program represents a requirement for nearly 16,000 carbines, and Dasan Machineries, another South Korean small arms firm, had won the tender with its DSAR-15PC. However, DAPA halted this effort in 2021 after it was discovered that Dasan employees “had unauthorized access beforehand to the type of weapons the agency was planning to develop,” according to The Korean Herald.

However, the Type I project was recently reinitiated, and SNT Motiv is expected to submit an improved version of the STC16/K13 for this other carbine competition. Once both the Special Operations Submachinegun Type I and II programs are completed, the MND will doubtlessly look to launch a widespread replacement for ubiquitous K2 and K2C1 assault rifles.