K-7
Summary
| Country | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
| Category | Submachine gun |
| Manufacturer | Daewoo |
Technical specifications
| K-7 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 1050 - 1250 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 9 x 19 mm Parabellum |
| Magazine | 32 rounds |
| Length | 788 mm (31.0 in) |
| Weight | 3.4 kg (7.5 lb) |
| Range | 200 m (656 ft) |
Description
The Daewoo Telecom K7 is a 9×19mm Parabellum submachine gun with an integral suppressor, used by the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. Its design is based on the Daewoo K1A assault rifle, simplified with a blowback action instead of the K1A's gas impingement system. The K7 was first displayed outside of Korea at the IDEX 2003 convention in the United Arab Emirates and is currently manufactured by SNT Motiv.
The K7 was developed in response to a Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command requirement. Although the H&K MP5SD6 was in service, its high cost led special forces units to use unconventional firearms for covert operations. The command requested an integrally suppressed submachine gun that would be less expensive than the MP5SD6. The Defense Agency for Technology and Quality and Daewoo Telecom began development in April 1998, completing the project in December 2000. In 2020, Iran revealed a local submachine gun design reportedly based on the K7, with suppressed and non-suppressed versions shown at an exhibition in May 2021. There have been reports of illegal exports of gun parts and production equipment, possibly related to copied K7s, to a Middle Eastern country between 2019 and 2023.
The K7 uses a simple blowback system where the bolt moves back and forth during firing and locks to the rear when the magazine is empty. It accepts 30-round vertical box magazines and can also use IMI Uzi 30-round or Beretta Model 12 32-round magazines, with internal accommodations retained from the K1A magazine well. It features single shot, 3-round burst, and fully automatic firing modes, although continuous automatic fire can damage the suppressor baffles. The weapon has a high rate of fire of 1,050–1,250 rounds per minute because of its light bolt. The integral suppressor allows the use of standard 9mm Parabellum ammunition without needing subsonic loads for sound reduction. The upper receiver is based on the K2, with changes, while the hammer, fire control unit, and telescopic stock come from the K1. A PK Designlab weaponlight with a Picatinny rail can be fitted to the K7, and because it was developed from the K1A, the K7 shares interchangeable parts with it.
The K7 is used by special forces units in South Korea, such as the ROKASWC and ROKNSWF. Indonesia also operates a number of K7s, including within the Komando Pasukan Katak and Komando Pasukan Khusus, with approximately 1,786 units transferred as of 2019, resulting in Indonesia possessing six times the inventory of South Korea as of 2021. Trial use has been reported in Thailand, with two units transferred in 2019.
The K7 is used by military and law enforcement units in:
Bangladesh (SWADS)
Indonesia (Komando Pasukan Katak, Komando Pasukan Khusus)
Iran (K7 and XK9, presidential guards)
Papua New Guinea (Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary)
South Korea (ROKASWC, ROKNSWF)