Military

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  Korean Air leads military program on space rocket launch using civilian aircraft SEOUL -- South Korea's top flag carrier Korean Air will follow the footsteps of Virgin Orbit, a California-based company that provides launch services for small satellites, to analyze the possibility of launching space rockets using civilian aircraft. The development of a projectile launched in the air is possible after Washington lifted restrictions on South Korea's missile development in May. LauncherOne is a two-stage orbital launch vehicle develop 2021-07-20
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  S. Korea's upgraded K9 self-propelled guns deployed to front-line island SEOUL -- K9A1, an upgraded version of South Korea's K9 self-propelled gun, has been deployed to a front-line island that was shelled by North Korea's artillery in 2010, killing four people and briefly triggering concerns of a full-scale conflict. There was no publicity or official confirmation on the placement of advanced guns that put North Korea's coast batteries in range. "More than three K9A1 self-propelled guns have been deployed to 2021-07-15
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  Hyundai Rotem's multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicles delivered for military test operation SEOUL -- For a six-month military test operation, Hyundai Rotem, a subsidiary of South Koreas Hyundai auto group, has delivered two multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicles that weigh two tons and are capable of carrying supplies, searching battlefields and evacuating patients. It is the first unmanned vehicle to be introduced by South Korean troops. Hyundai Rotem said in a statement on July 7 that two multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) have bee 2021-07-07
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  Korean Air to purchase four Falcon 2000S jets for medium-altitude spy plane program SEOUL -- South Korea's top flag carrier Korean Air will bring in four twin-engine Falcon 2000S business jets from France's Dassault Aviation to turn them into medium-altitude Baekdu spy planes. To reduce its dependence on U.S. intelligence, South Korean troops have bolstered intelligence capabilities by purchasing more spy planes or upgrading the surveillance capabilities of those in service. The South Korean military is currently operating six Baek 2021-07-01
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  Hanwha's Redback infantry fighting vehicle to be tested by S. Korean army SEOUL -- The AS21 Redback developed by Hanwha Defense will be tested by a mechanized unit in South Korea in 2022 to evaluate its operational fit. Hanwha has developed the new infantry fighting vehicle to meet future warfare requirements with enhanced protection, firepower and performance. The AS21 Redback has been shortlisted as a candidate for an Australian military project to replace old armored personnel carriers. It is competing with the Lynx develo 2021-07-01
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  S. Korea's military endorses development of Iron Dome air defense system SEOUL -- South Korea will push for a 13-year military project to develop the Korean version of Iron Dome, an air defense system designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired by North Korea's long-range artillery deployed along the heavily armed border. The project is aimed at securing a dome-shaped air defense network by installing guided missile launchers at various locations through domestic research and development to prote 2021-06-28
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  S. Korea commissions second amphibious warfare ship with enhanced combat capabilities SEOUL -- South Korea commissioned a second amphibious warfare ship that can accommodate amphibious assault vehicles for landing by marine troops. The new ship's combat capabilities have been strengthened by installing new equipment that will contribute to acquiring know-how for the construction and operation of a light aircraft carrier. The 14,500-ton amphibious assault ship named "Marado" designed by Hanjin Heavy Industries is 199 meters and can s 2021-06-28
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  LIG Nex1 opens assembly and inspection center for upper-tier missile defense system SEOUL -- LIG Nex1, a defense contractor involved in the development of radar and missile guidance systems, has opened a dedicated assembly and inspection center for an upper-tier missile defense system which is slated to be ready in 2024. South Korea has strived to develop an independent aerial and missile defense system, based mainly on Russian technology. The opening ceremony took place on June 23 in Gimcheon, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) southeast of 2021-06-25
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  Gallium nitride power amplification device localized in S. Korea SEOUL -- South Korea has localized technology to mass-produce a gallium nitride power amplification device that stabilizes the output of high-intensity energy emitted in a short time. It is a strategic material that has been used for mobile communication equipment and high-tech weapons such as radars. Due to high power density and voltage breakdown limits, gallium nitride (GaN) is emerging as a promising candidate for 5G cellular ba 2021-06-22
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  Anti-drone system being tested at military facilities to neutralize ultra-small drones SEOUL -- South Korea's military will test-run a radar-linked solution that can detect ultra-small drones and fire interference radio waves to neutralize them before they reach key military facilities. It is capable of detecting an ultra-small drone about eight kilometers away. The anti-drone solution developed by K-NETZ, an IT company, will be piloted for six months from June 22, said the Defense Acquisition Program A 2021-06-22
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  S. Korea's military to test two new surveillance systems in border areas SEOUL -- Two new surveillance devices using robots, high-resolution cameras or sound sensors will be tested in the second half of 2021 to lessen the heavy work of South Korean border guards and minimize blind spots through non-stop surveillance missions. One is a sentry robot that moves at least five meters per second along the rail. For test operation, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), a state arms procurement agency, will purchase two surve 2021-06-15
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  Hanwha Systems joins development of autonomous underwater vehicles for clustered search SEOUL -- A consortium involving Hanwha Systems and state research bodies will develop an autonomous underwater vehicle for clustered search and its operating system in a state project to establish a marine unmanned system that enables rapid and accurate underwater exploration. The project hosted by the Korea Institute of Marine Science & Technology Promotion (KIMST) will cost some 25 billion won ($22 million) by 2025. It is designed to protect the g 2021-06-14
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  S. Korea localizes high-performance armor plate for armored vehicles SEOUL -- South Korea's defense agency has succeeded in the localization of materials for high-performance armor plates that are used for the protection of armored vehicles. The development of new armor plates will help reduce domestic companies' dependency on foreign materials in the manufacturing of defense products. Military vehicles including light-armored vehicles and armored fighting vehicles are normally clad in plates of armor that protect m 2021-06-08
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  Hanwha Defense in discussion with suppliers for Britain's self-propelled artillery program SEOUL -- In an effort to bolster its winning strategy for Britain's arms procurement program, Hanwha Defense is ready to arrange for a "Made in the UK" variant of its K9 self-propelled howitzer through the transfer of technology and know-how. The South Korean company is to release a request for proposal in 2022 with K9's advanced version that can be used to strengthen combined operational capabilities with NATO allies. K-9 is one of Sout 2021-06-03
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  S. Korea's long-term goal to develop platforms for rocket launch using aircraft or at sea SEOUL -- Underlining its strong push to catch up with Japan and other countries in space technology, South Korea unveiled a long-term goal to develop platforms for the launch of space rockets using aircraft or at sea, in less than two weeks after the United States lifted decades-old restrictions on missile development The Defense Ministry said in a report to a defense committee in parliament that it would develop air- or sea-based platforms to launch spacecraft. &qu 2021-05-31
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  Hanwha Corporation wins military order to develop oscillator technology for laser weapons SEOUL -- South Korea's Hanwha group has been selected for a military project to develop an oscillator for laser weapons that would be used for short-range air defense against small unmanned aircraft like drones. A laser emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. An oscillator generates a coherent signal through resonant oscillation without an input signal. Hanwha Corporat 2021-05-31
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  [FOCUS] Experts anticipate 'win-win synergy' in Seoul-London romance in maritime defense industry SEOUL -- South Korea has yearned for strong military firepower ever since its entire territory was almost eradicated by North Korean troops with far superior weapons during their three-year conflict. After the ceasefire in 1953, Seoul has frantically boosted defense capabilities through ties with key allies such as the United States to have the world's sixth powerful armed forces. Under a mutual defense pact, South Korea has been heavily dependent on 2021-05-27
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  LIG Nex1 secures deal to produce new mid-range radar system for maritime surveillance SEOUL -- LIG Nex1, a defense contractor involved in the development of radar and missile guidance systems, has secured a deal from South Korea's military procurement agency to produce a new mid-range radar system for maritime surveillance that would be installed in coastal and island areas to detect ships and aircraft. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said it has signed a contract worth $164 bil 2021-05-17
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  New and 5th 2,800-ton frigate launched at Daewoo shipyard SEOUL --A new 2,800-ton frigate armed with anti-submarine and tactical guided missiles was launched in a ceremony at the shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, a major shipbuilder in South Korea. The frigate named "Daejeon" features a hybrid propulsion system to reduce underwater radiated noise and a towed array passive sonar system. Daejeon is the fifth FFX Batch II frigate which is 122 meters long, 14 meters wide and 34 meters hig 2021-05-03
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  S. Korea develops technology to detect aircraft using stealth technology SEOUL -- Through four years of independent research, South Korea's state defense research body claimed to have developed technology capable of tracking stealth fighters. The technology will be used for the establishment of a wide-area surveillance radar system to track fighter jets from China, Russia and other countries which have staged air operations in Northeast Asia. In a four-year project that began in 2016, the Agency for D 2021-04-27