Military

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  Hanwha Defense starts test operation of military intelligent unmanned ground vehicle SEOUL -- South Korea's major defense contractor Hanwha Defense and an army infantry division have started the test operation of a six-wheeled multi-role unmanned ground vehicle that can carry up to 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) of cargo and travel more than 100 kilometers (62.1 miles) per charge. Hanwha Defense has previously showcased a multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicle (M-UGV), a four-wheeled 1.5-ton electric vehicle that can move at a top speed of 30 kilometers per hour on 2021-10-08
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  S. Korea launches 3rd 3,000-ton attack submarine capable of firing ballistic missiles SEOUL -- South Korea launched its third 3,000-ton attack submarine capable of firing ballistic missiles. The diesel-electric submarine featuring advanced noise reduction technologies can operate underwater for 20 days without surfacing. The third 3,000-ton submarine named "Shin Chae-ho" was built at the shipyard of Hyundai Heavy Industries, while two 3,000-ton submarines have been constructed by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). With the launch of S 2021-09-28
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  S. Korea aims to launch homemade space rocket with solid-propellant booster in 2024 SEOUL -- South Korea will launch a homemade rocket with solid-propellant boosters to place a small reconnaissance satellite in 2024, using technology acquired through the combustion test of a solid-propellant rocket engine in July that came after Washington revised missile guidelines, allowing Seoul to develop and possess space launch vehicles using solid fuel. Liquid-propellant rockets offer more efficient and controllable alternatives, but solid rockets are used in military armame 2021-09-16
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  LIG Nex1 secures contract to produce terminals for military satellite communication system SEOUL -- LIG Nex1, a defense contractor involved in the development of radar and missile guidance systems, secured a military contract to produce communication terminals for a military satellite communication system linked to ANASIS-II, a military communications satellite launched in July 2020 atop a rocket manufactured by U.S commercial space firm SpaceX. The military project is aimed at supporting stable communication 24 hours a day anywhere by supplementing a ground communication 2021-09-15
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  Hanwha Defense bolsters K9 bid in Britain thru partnership with local companies SEOUL -- Hanwha Defense bolstered its bid for a British arms acquisition program through the creation of an industrial partnership called "Team Thunder" with local defense companies on the sidelines of a defense and security trade exhibition in London to supply a variant of the world's most popular self-propelled howitzer, K9 Thunder. During the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) on September 14-17 at ExCel, Hanwha Defense is to sign memorandums of u 2021-09-14
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  S. Korea discloses military project to establish fleet of ultra-small spy satellites SEOUL -- South Korea disclosed a military project to establish a fleet of ultra-small spy satellites that would be used to quickly detect asymmetric threats from North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles. The project begins in 2022 to launch the first ultra-small satellite in 2025. South Korea, which relies heavily on American reconnaissance assets to monitor North Korea, aims to acquire an independent reconnaissance satellite system. The combination of a military reconnaissanc 2021-09-10
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  Daewoo shipyard wins defense contract to build second 3,600-ton diesel-electric submarine SEOUL -- Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering has secured a defense contract worth 985.7 billion won ($840 million) to build South Korea's second 3,600-ton diesel-electric submarine installed with lithium-ion batteries that are more power-efficient than lead-acid batteries, take up less space and improve underwater navigation capability and high-speed maneuvering. Submarines using lead-acid batteries surface regularly to vent poisonous fumes created in the processes of c 2021-09-10
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  S. Korea launches new 2,800-ton frigate with hybrid propulsion system SEOUL -- South Korea's navy launched a new 2,800-ton frigate armed with a five-inch cannon, guided missiles and torpedoes at the shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. It was the sixth FFX Batch II frigate which is 122 meters long and features a hybrid propulsion system to reduce underwater radiated noise and a towed array passive sonar system. The FFX Batch II frigate can accommodate a maritime helicopter and carry Hongsangeo (Red Shark) torpedoes and ship- 2021-09-08
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  S. Korea develops structural design and flight control algorithm for tailless military drones SEOUL -- South Korea's military technology development agency has developed core technologies such as aerial structure design and flight control algorithms for low-observable, tailless unmanned aerial vehicles. The acquisition of core stealth technologies will accelerate the deployment of Kaori-X, a strike fighter-sized tailless drone under development. Unlike ordinary military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the shapes of miniaturized airplanes, tailless drones do not have 2021-09-07
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  S. Korea becomes SLBM holder with successful test launch from new submarine: report SEOUL -- South Korea made a quiet surprise with unconfirmed reports that a homemade submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) was successfully tested. As a result, South Korea has virtually completed the development of SLBMs, becoming the world's eighth SLBM holder after the United States, Russia, Britain, France, India, China and North Korea, Yonhap News said. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD), a state-run defense technology research body, supervised an underwater in 2021-09-07
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  S. Korea's new military buildup program calls for development of powerful ballistic missile SEOUL -- South Korea's defense ministry disclosed plans to develop a strong ballistic missile with significantly increased destructive power, sparking speculation the new weapon would be an enhanced successor to the Hyunmoo-4 missile with a maximum range of 800 kilometers (497 miles) and a warhead weight of two tons. The development of a new ballistic missile was contained in a five-year defense buildup program unveiled on September 2. There have been unconfirmed reports that So 2021-09-02
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  S. Korea develops core technology to maximize performance of gunpowder SEOUL -- Through a five-year project, South Korea's defense technology agency has developed a core technology that can be used for maximizing the performance of gunpowder to increase the damage of projectiles. The agency said that its technology is ideal for destroying buildings and armored vehicles. Gunpowder is a mixture of sulfur, carbon and potassium nitrate. Normally, gunpowder is solely used to propel a bullet out of a cartridge case. Some ammunitions use a propellant comp 2021-08-24
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  Two shipbuilders join force to participate in construction of light aircraft carrier SEOUL -- Two shipbuilders known for their experience in building warships in South Korea joined forces to participate in a military project aimed at constructing a light aircraft carrier capable of carrying vertical landing combat jets with indigenous technology. The Defense Ministry has unveiled the so-called CVX project to build a 30,000-ton light aircraft carrier manned by more than 400 crew members. Some 2.33 trillion won ($2.09 billion) will be spent from 2022 to 2033 only on b 2021-08-19
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  Second-tier interceptor capable of blocking ballistic missiles ready for mass production SEOUL -- South Korea's home-grown medium-range guided interceptor capable of blocking both ballistic missiles and aircraft is ready for mass production after it passed a shooting test to certify its quality. It is the mid-tier interceptor in South Korea's independent three-tier aerial and missile defense system called "Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD)," based mainly on Russian technology. Cheongung-II passed ballistic missile and aircraft intercept tests on Au 2021-08-19
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  Hanwha Defense selected for military project to modernize bridging equipment SEOUL -- With technology transfer from a foreign company based in Germany, Hanwha Defense, a key defense contractor in South Korea, will produce a new type of self-deployable military equipment that can be used as a bridge or as a ferry to transport weapon systems, troops and supplies over water when permanent bridges are not available. Hanwha Defense, known for high-performance amphibious assault vehicles and self-propelled guns, has been selected by the Defense Acquisition Progr 2021-08-17
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  S. Korea's first 3,000-ton sub capable of firing ballistic missiles delivered for mission SEOUL -- South Korea's first 3,000-ton submarine capable of firing ballistic missiles was delivered for naval missions. It will be deployed in August 2022 after a year of operational capability assessment. Details on its weapons system were not disclosed, but military experts say the new submarine has six vertical launchers for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). The diesel-electric submarine named "Dosan Ahn Chang-ho" joined South Korea's naval submarin 2021-08-13
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  British nuclear-powered submarine docked at Busan port ahead of aircraft carrier's arrival SEOUL -- Britain's nuclear-powered submarine HMS Artful has been docked at a military pier in South Korea's southern port of Busan ahead of a port call by the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and its strike group in late August. Sailors were to go through quarantine measures such as COVID-19 testing during their stay in South Korea. The submarine is docked in the port of Busan for the loading of munitions and the rest of its crew, South Korea's d 2021-08-12
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  S. Korea develops explosive reactive material structures for projectiles SEOUL -- South Korea's state defense technology development agency has developed a new compound material made of non-combustible powders that becomes self-reactive in highly pressurized and extremely heated environments. The new reactive material structures can maximize the explosive power of projectiles on impact. Projectile weapons including missiles and rockets consist of explosive materials such as black powder and a burster, which is a device also known as a detonator burst 2021-08-10
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  S. Korea's defense ministry works with U.S. to fend off cyber threats SEOUL -- U.S. and South Korean defense ministries have agreed to strengthen their coordination against cyber threats and share information in their first meeting of the virtual ICT cooperation committee. They would hold consultations every year to discuss cooperation in information and communication technology. At the meeting held on August 4, the two allies agreed to strengthen their coordination in various aspects such as a weapons system to maintain a solid joint defense posture, 2021-08-05
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  DAPA endorses scheme to build next-generation frigates with improved anti-aircraft detection capabilities SEOUL -- South Korea's defense procurement agency endorsed a military scheme to go ahead with the home-made construction of next-generation frigates with improved anti-aircraft detection capabilities and viability. The project requires about 3.51 trillion won ($3.07 billion) from 2023 to 2032. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), a state arms procurement agency controlled by the defense ministry, said it has approved the FFX Batch-Ⅳ program. Details such as d 2021-08-04