![]() Though the system was originally designed to take on the vast amounts of North Korean T-54/T-55/T-62 main battle tanks of Soviet design, the Type 88 has since grown to compete with the latest generation tanks from around the globe. Hyundai Precision & Inc Company Limited (now ROTEM) handled production of the vehicle locally in South Korea (though some parts production was handled overseas). ![]() With its origins in the M1 Abrams, it is easy to see the external similarities between the South Korea Type 88 (ROTEM K1) Main Battle Tank and the American M1 Abrams. Looking forward to the manufacture of the tank in South Korea, Hyundai Precision engineers were sent to study at General Dynamics and supervise production of the variation called the XK1. Instead, the tank chosen by the South Koreans would be a variation of the American M1 Abrams design - developed by the General Dynamics Land Systems company. After some consideration, the Korean team felt that with new Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams being developed, producing older tank versions could reduce their ability to counter new Soviet designs. ![]() Contracts were secured to upgrade existing Korean Patton's and the design team looked at production rights for the German Leopard 1. This ended in a no-agreement because the amount of Patton's available was insufficient for the Korean's needs. The original plan was to acquire all the tanks available and produce new Pattons in Korea. Initially the team looked into obtaining rights to licensing produce the American M60A1 Patton tank. The Korean development team looked at multiple designs. Having said that, the Koreans did not have the design expertise to develop, tool and manufacture such a tank. The South Korean President, Park Chung-hee, and his administration wanted to build the new tank domestically so the Korean Army and the people would take national pride with Koreans producing a Korean tank and Park new his men would fight with a feeling of superiority in a tank built by their own countrymen. ![]() A main battle tank concept was needed to counter the North Korean Soviet tanks T-54/55 threat. In the 1970's the Korean Government was concerned with its aging American family of tanks made up of the M47 and M48 Patton series. The South Korean military has used tanks developed and produced in the United States from the time of the Korean War. ![]()
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