{
  "id": "koksan",
  "name": "M-1978 Koksan",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "PRK",
  "category": "170 mm self-propelled gun",
  "status": "in-service",
  "fielded": 1978,
  "operators": [
    "PRK"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 1,
  "summary": "The M-1978 Koksan is a 170mm self-propelled gun of North Korean design and manufacture. Very little information is available due to the secretive nature of the North Korean government.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Second Machine Industry Bureau, North Korea",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 4,
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Chassis",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "modified Chinese Type 59 medium tank chassis (copy of the Soviet T-54A)",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Displacement time",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "less than 10 min",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Emplacement time",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "less than 20 min",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 14.9,
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 3.27,
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 3.1,
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 40,
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "V-59",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 520,
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "road_range_km",
      "v": 300,
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_road_kmh",
      "v": 40,
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_xc_kmh",
      "v": 10,
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording depth",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "1.2 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Loader",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Manual",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rate of fire (max)",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "1-2 per 5 min",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Vehicle Commander",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, infra-red night vision equipment",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Gunner",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, infra-red night vision equipment",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Main Gun Stabilization",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, Two large spades that are lowered to the ground manually before firing",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hull Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Open-mounted, providing no armored protection",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Turret Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Open-mounted, providing no armored protection",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Smoke Equipment",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes, smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust outlet",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "main_armament",
      "v": "Unidentified 170mm gun",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_max_km",
      "v": 40,
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Maximum firing range"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "HE FRAG",
      "role": "170 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "INA"
      },
      "range_km": 40,
      "qty": "INA"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rocket Assisted HE FRAG",
      "role": "170 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "INA"
      },
      "range_km": 60,
      "qty": "INA"
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "M-1989",
      "text": "he M1989 self-propelled gun was developed as a successor to the previous M1978 Koksan. Designation of this vehicle has been allocated by the US Department of Defense. Number in the designation indicates the year it was f",
      "src": [
        "weg-koksan"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "sph",
  "image": {
    "file": "koksan.jpg",
    "thumb": "koksan-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Stefan Krasowski",
    "license": "CC BY 2.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:170mm_M1989_Koksan_-_North_Korea_Victory_Day-2013_01.jpg",
    "title": "File:170mm M1989 Koksan - North Korea Victory Day-2013 01.jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-04",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-05",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY 2.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/koksan.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-koksan": {
      "title": "M-1978 Koksan North Korea 170mm Self-Propelled Gun (SPG)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/M-1978_Koksan_North_Korea_170mm_Self-Propelled_Gun",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}