Military

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  Development of unmanned infantry search vehicle begins for mass production SEOUL -- South Korea's state defense technology development agency embarked on a military project to complete the development of an unmanned search vehicle for mass production and deployment in mechanized infantry divisions and armored brigades to perform various front-line missions such as search, reconnaissance and vigilance. The project that requires 28.4 billion won ($91 million) by September 2026 is aimed at developing core infantry equipment for the future battlefield, 2022-11-02
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  KAI clinches new deal to produce attack helicopters for marine force SEOUL -- Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the sole aircraft maker in South Korea, has clinched a deal worth about 430 billion won ($303 million) from a state arms procurement agency to convert a homemade landing helicopter for marine troops into an attack helicopter armed with air-to-air guided missiles, a turret-type machine gun, rockets, and air-to-ground guided missiles. Three prototypes will be made for 46 months, using Marineon, the amphibious variant of South Korea's hom 2022-10-28
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  LIG Nex1 selected as preferred bidder to develop new shipborne electronic warfare system SEOUL -- LIG Nex1 has been selected as a preferred bidder for South Korea's military project to develop a next-generation shipborne electronic warfare system with an improved ability to respond to electromagnetic waves. The system can identify enemy electromagnetic activity early, perform electron attacks at a greater distance, and improve the viability and attack ability of warships. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) aims to develop a system that can detect 2022-10-25
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  ADD acquires acoustic sensing technology for unmanned submersible systems SEOUL -- South Korea's state defense technology development agency has developed acoustic sensing technology for unmanned submersible systems that can perform underwater monitoring, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine missions. Acoustic sensing can emulate a variety of signal-specific sensors by recovering the different types of sensor information directly from the sound. In a five-year study that began in 2017, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) said it has produced a prot 2022-10-25
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  [FOCUS] Russia deserves gratitude for arousing new orders for S. Korean weapons SEOUL -- Russia deserves gratitude from South Korean defense companies for providing a rare opportunity to acquire core technologies for advanced military equipment such as missiles and enhance the brand power of their products as seen in lucrative arms deals with Poland, which opted for the quick introduction of alternative weapons to fill up equipment shortages caused by the transfer of munitions to Ukraine and the delayed arrival of U.S. systems. Self-esteem grew among South Kore 2022-10-21
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  First batch of S. Korean tanks and howitzers rolled out for delivery to Poland SEOUL -- The first batch of South Korean tanks and self-propelled howitzers was rolled out for delivery to Poland, just two months after the European country concluded an arms deal on the quick introduction of foreign weapons to fill up equipment shortages caused by the support of crucial munitions to Ukraine. Poland has signed basic deals with South Korea to acquire FA-50 light attack fighters, K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers. Hanwha Defense and Hyundai Rotem held separate 2022-10-19
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  Hanwha Defense's multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicle chosen for U.S. performance tests SEOUL -- An advanced multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicle developed by Hanwha Defense, a South Korean defense company known for K9 self-propelled howitzers and infantry fighting vehicles, has been chosen for performance tests in the United States, paving the way for potential cooperation with the U.S. military’s future modernization programs. This is the first time that a South Korean unmanned weapon system has joined the U.S. Army’s competitive field test and evaluat 2022-10-11
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  Deployment of advanced maritime surveillance radar set to begin in 2025 SEOUL -- The prototyping of a homemade maritime surveillance radar with significantly improved detection performance is set to begin for sequential deployment in 2025. It is essential for the offshore surveillance of ships in coastal areas and for sharing detected information with a military system. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), a state body controlled by the defense ministry, aims to complete system development through evaluations by June 2024. Defense Mini 2022-10-07
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  ​Airbus Helicopters partners with Korean Air to develop unmanned surveillance military helicopter SEOUL -- South Korea's top flag carrier Korean Air has partnered with the helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus to develop an unmanned surveillance military helicopter that can be used by warships to monitor operational areas or patrol frontline islands near the volatile inter-Korean maritime border in the Yellow Sea. Because the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a ceasefire rather than a treaty, the two Koreas remain technically at war. The maritime border in the Yello 2022-10-06
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  Norway's Kongsberg partners with Hyundai Rotem to develop unmanned turrets and drone protection systems for next-generation tanks SEOUL -- Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA), a Norwegian supplier of defense and space-related systems and products, has established a strategic partnership with Hyundai Rotem, the producer of South Korea's main battle tank, K2 Black Panther, to develop unmanned turrets and drone protection systems to be installed in next-generation tanks and wheel-type armored vehicles. KDA products such as digital integrated systems would be applied to Hyundai Rotem's K2 tanks and K 2022-09-28
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  ADD develops atomic spin gyroscope technology for navigation devices in weapons systems SEOUL -- South Korea's defense technology development agency has developed an atomic spin gyroscope that can be used for navigation devices in weapon systems. The prototype is a 350cc ice cream pint cup, but researchers aim to produce a micro-sized gyroscope with a volume of 50cc or less through additional technology improvement. A spinning wheel or disc known as gyroscope is a key element in controlled-moving systems, such as guided missiles, navigation, and altitude systems. 2022-09-27
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  Homemade Cheongeom anti-tanks missile on display at defense exhibition SEOUL -- Cheongeom, a homemade air-to-ground guided missile that would replace TOW anti-tank missiles, has been displayed at a defense exhibition in western Seoul, along with a light-armed helicopter that will be deployed for combat missions in 2023. The missile is equipped with a visual and infrared dual mode seeker for day-and-night operations. Cheongeom, also known as TAipers, adopted a tandem warhead capable of breaking explosive reactive armor and LIG NEX1's seeker. When 2022-09-22
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  Hanwha Systems submits bid for development of next-generation shipborne electronic warfare system SEOUL -- Hanwha Systems, a key defense contractor involved in the development of antennas and other crucial equipment in South Korea, has submitted a proposal to participate in the development of a new shipborne electronic warfare system with an improved ability to respond to electromagnetic waves such as anti-ship guided missiles and radars. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), a state body controlled by the defense ministry, will develop the upgraded version of 2022-09-22
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  KAI displays model plane at defense exhibition as potential carrier-born aircraft SEOUL -- Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the sole aircraft maker in South Korea, has displayed a model ship plane at a defense exhibition and attached an explanatory note describing it as carrier-born aircraft, although a military project to develop a homemade light aircraft carrier got dormant due to the lack of interest among policymakers and unresolved disputes over its necessity. The model plane codenamed KF-21N on display at KAI's booth at an exhibition center in western 2022-09-21
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  Hanwha Defense's K9A2 self-propelled gun on display at defense industry exhibition in Britain SEOUL -- K9A2, the most advanced version of Hanwha Defense's self-propelled gun K9 Thunder, has arrived in Britain for its international debut to bolster a bid for a British arms acquisition program. It comes at a time when the need to outpace and outfight adversaries has been reinforced by recent geopolitical events such as a war between Russia and Ukraine. K9A2 will be displayed at DVD, a biennial Defense industry exhibition to be held on September 21~22 at UTAC Millbrook in 2022-09-20
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  S. Korea produces homemade armored amphibious assault bridges SEOUL -- With technology transfer from a foreign company based in Germany, South Korea started the production of 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. The first self-propelled, amphibious bridging vehicle was produced on September 20 under a localization program that costs some 530 billion won ($381 million) by 2027, according to 2022-09-20
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  LIG Nex1 consortium selected for development of technologies for cyber electronic warfare SEOUL -- A consortium involving LIG Nex1, a defense contractor in South Korea, was selected for a state project to develop core technologies for cyber electronic warfare that has gained attention due to a conflict between Russia and Ukraine. It is a concept of "soft-kill" operations capable of paralyzing North Korean missiles and networks in wartime and peacetime. Cyber warfare involves hackers using information systems and the internet to disrupt or attack states or comp 2022-09-13
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  Hanwha Defense hopes to talk with Poland's defense group on joint weapons development SEOUL -- Hanwha Defense, a major defense company affiliated with South Korea's Hanwha Group, will open an earnest discussion with Poland's state defense group on the potential joint development of a multiple rocket system and a new infantry fighting vehicle on the sidelines of an arms trade fair in the European country that borders Ukraine. Poland has been interested in introducing Hanwha's next-generation infantry fighting vehicle called "Redback,", which is o 2022-09-06
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  Military program endorsed to improve performance of AH-64E Gurdian attack helicopters SEOUL -- South Korea's military endorsed a program to spend some 400 billion won ($293 million) on improving the performance of AH-64E Guardian attack helicopters in operation with tactical data links and fire control radars by 2027. The program is aimed at producing the same performance as the latest version run by U.S. troops based in South Korea. The proposed performance improvement of Boeing's AH-64 Apache, a twin-turboshaft attack helicopter purchased by South Korea 2022-09-02
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  LIG Nex1 pushes for development of jammer capable of disrupting drone control signals SEOUL -- In line with a government project to neutralize threats by drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, LIG Nex1, a defense contractor in South Korea, will push for the development of a jammer that disturbs control signals and get them off course and into a crash. Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles are widely used on battlefields and for reconnaissance because of their versatility and costs. A war between Russia and Ukraine has highlighted the tactical value of applying countermea 2022-08-22