Aju Business Daily

SEOUL -- To localize expensive foreign devices used for cannons, South Korea has developed and standardized slip-ring devices which can be used in medical, power and other industries.

A slip-ring, also known as rotating electrical connectors, is an electromechanical device that allows transmission of power and electric signals from a stationary to a rotating structure without the hassle of tangled wires. In the military, slip-ring devices are used to connect cannons or gun turrets onto ships and armored vehicles.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said Monday that it has finished the localization of a slip-ring device for 40mm cannons. South Korea has problems in maintaining a stable inventory of imported slip-ring devices.

"In order to stabilize the military's force management, we will continue to localize foreign parts and make efforts to boost the competitiveness of small and medium companies," DAPA's acquisition planning bureau director-general Seo Hyung-jin was quoted as saying.

The localization of slip-ring devices began in 2014 to save costs. A German device costs about 80 million won ($70,422). DAPA said its home-made slip ring device can be used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines and wind power generators.