Military

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  S. Korea works on technologies to track military satellites with laser SEOUL -- For military use, South Korea will work on the development of technologies to track and identify space objects and satellites with lasers in response to calls for defensive measures against space-based weapons. South Korea has a long way to go, but the final goal is to develop a laser weapon system capable of destroying "killer satellites." The development of satellite tracking technologies was endorsed on January 27 at a meeting involving milita 2021-01-27
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  All S. Korean infantry units backed by well-equipped teams of designated marksmen SEOUL -- South Korea's home-made K-14 sniper rifle capable of shooting down the enemy at a distance of up to one kilometer has been distributed to all frontline infantry units, along with an observation device featuring a thermal imaging camera and a high-precision laser. It took almost nine years since the rifle was first distributed to special forces in 2013. K14 is a .308 Winchester bolt-action sniper rifle that comes with a daytime scope, night vision s 2021-01-26
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  S. Korea completes development of wheel-type command post vehicle SEOUL -- South Korea's military has completed the development of a wheel-type command post vehicle that would ensure the survival of frontline infantry units through the application of armored plates and positive air pressure equipment that can protect against chemical and biological warfare. It also enables a real-time grasp of combat situations as well as effective command and control in a network operational environme 2021-01-25
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  S. Korea pushes for localization of X-band monolithic microwave integrated circuit based on gallium nitride SEOUL -- As an important defense project that will have a trickle-down effect on the private sector, South Korea will push for the localization of an X-band monolithic microwave integrated circuit based on gallium nitride that is used for radars, satellite communication and 5G mobile communication. The decision was made on January 19 at an online conference involving top officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Defense Ministry, the Ministry 2021-01-20
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  Hyundai Rotem selected to develop technologies for remote operation of unmanned tanks SEOUL -- Hyundai Rotem has been selected for a military project to develop technologies that can remotely operate unmanned mobile combat systems such as tanks, armored vehicles and self-propelled guns by utilizing its know-how as the manufacturer of South Korea's main K1 battle tank. Hyundai Rotem, a Hyundai auto group subsidiary, said that it was selected by a state agency for research and development in defense technology, to develop technologies f 2020-12-31
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  Unmanned underwater mine disposal system deployed for naval operations SEOUL -- An unmanned underwater mine disposal system developed by a South Korean company with independent technology has been deployed for naval operations. It can carry out operations against strong currents and operating time is longer than existing equipment imported from abroad. The deployment of Daeyang Electric's new mine disposal system began in 2018, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) cont 2020-12-29
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  Daewoo shipyard selected for military project to develop technology for electric warship This file image shows an electrically driven Zoomwalt-class U.S. destroyer. SEOUL -- Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, a major shipbuilder in South Korea, has been selected for a military project to develop core technologies such as a control system and an integrated power system simulator for next-generation all-electric warships. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) said it would form a consortium with the Korea Electrotechno 2020-12-28
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  S. Korean front-line iron fences to be reinforced with unmanned monitoring device SEOUL -- South Korea will use an unmanned monitoring device backed by sensitive sensors to reinforce scientific surveillance equipment attached to front-line iron fences that have played a key role in blocking surprise attacks and intrusion by North Korean soldiers across the world's last Cold War frontier established at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. Hanwha Systems, a major defense contractor in South Korea, will work with the Defense Acquisition Program A 2020-12-17
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  S. Korea's Hanwha group signs joint defense research agreement with US military SEOUL -- South Korea's Hanwha Group has sealed a meaningful agreement with the U.S. military to conduct joint research and development of defense equipment and technologies. Hanwha is the first Korean enterprise to enter into such an agreement with the US Army. The agreement underlines Hanwha's push to position itself as a competitive defense firm in the global market. The defense group has sold military equipment abroad, including its K-9 self-pr 2020-12-16
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  Defense agency develops mine detector capable of detecting N. Korean wooden-box land mine SEOUL -- A new fully-localized mine detector that can be used for sweeping and mapping minimum metal land mines such as North Korean wooden-box land mines, was developed through a joint project led by Hanwha Systems, a major defense contractor in South Korea. The new detector will be deployed in 2022. The wooden-box mine used by North Korea is a copy of the Soviet mine that was used during World War II. It consists of a wooden box packed full of explosives and a 2020-12-14
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  Home-made light attack chopper passed fit for combat in provisional evaluation results SEOUL -- South Korea's home-made light attack helicopter was found to be operationally suitable for combat in an interim decision by a state arms procurement agency controlled by the defense ministry, more than five years after development began, based on H-155, a twin-engine helicopter created by European aircraft maker Airbus. South Korea's sole aircraft maker, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) was involved in the development of a home-made light attack hel 2020-12-11
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  [FOCUS] Home-made helicopter developer frowns at Bell's bid to sell AH-1Z Viper for Marines A file picture shows a mockup of South Korea's home-made Marineon attack helicopter. SEOUL -- The developer of home-made military helicopters based on the Surion, a twin-engine, transport utility model which has been in service, frowned on a strident bid by U.S. aircraft maker Bell Textron to sell its AH-1Z Viper to South Korea's marine force which plans to operate about 20 attack choppers with a strong offensive 2020-12-10
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  LIG Nex1 selected to develop self-driving underwater mine detector for naval operations SEOUL -- LIG Nex1, a defense contractor in South Korea, will develop an underwater mine detector for naval operations. Equipped with a supersonic camera and Sonar, the underwater robot can self-drive for more than 20 hours to find mines, monitor enemy infiltration routes and collect topographic Information for civilian rescue operations. LIG Nex1 was selected to develop the underwater mine detector using cutting-edge tech 2020-12-09
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  Hanwha Systems selected for military project to test smartphone-based personal surveillance system SEOUL -- Hanwha Systems, a major defense contractor in South Korea, was selected for a military pilot project to test a smart personal surveillance system that allows users to share battlefield situations in real-time through video by using smartphones instead of radio communication. It maximizes portability and convenience as video information can be exchanged anytime, anywhere. Hanwha Systems said that a personal helmet is equipped with an intelligent image sen 2020-12-04
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  S. Korean military introduces three types of attack drones for a pilot operation SEOUL -- South Korea's arms procurement agency signed contracts with LIG Nex1 and two other drone makers to introduce three types of attack drones for a pilot operation at military units within six months. Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles are widely used on battlefields and for reconnaissance because of their versatility and costs. South Korea has launched a military project to spend some 2.7 trillion won ($2.45 2020-12-02
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  Rolls-Royce's gas turbine selected for third batch of S. Korean frigates SEOUL -- A new MT30 gas turbine designed by Rolls-Royce Holdings has been selected for the third batch of frigates to be built under South Korea's three-stage FFX warship program, demonstrating the technical superiority of the British engineering company which already has introduced a hybrid propulsion system for Daegu-class frigates. The FFX program calls for the construction of six 2,300-ton Incheon-class ships for the first batch, eight Dae 2020-12-02
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  Hyundai Rotem selected to provide military unmanned vehicles SEOUL -- Hyundai Rotem, a subsidiary of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, was selected to provide multi-purpose unmanned vehicles capable of carrying supplies, searching battlefields and evacuating patients. Within six months, the company will supply two units and a support system for pilot operation. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), a state body controlled by the defense ministry, picked Hyundai Rotem's military unmanned gr 2020-11-24
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  Hanwha Systems selected to lead development of joint tactical data link system SEOUL -- In modern warfare, superior situation awareness is crucial for rapid command decisions and precisely guided munition. The main communicational enabler is a tactical data link that transmits, relays and receives tactical data. U.S. allies use Link 16, a jam-resistant, high-speed network that allows military aircraft, ships and ground forces to exchange their tactical picture in near-real-time. South Korea is pushing for the development of a join 2020-11-18
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  Hanwha Systems selected for military project to develop AI staff officer SEOUL -- Hanwha System, a key defense contractor in South Korea, was selected to develop an artificial intelligence staff officer that would become an interactive brain trust to provide detailed analysis and aggregated assessments for decision-making by commanders. It would be the first military project to incorporate AI technology into an intelligent battlefield recognition system. The system collects various information and tactical data of the battle 2020-11-13
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  [FOCUS] S. Korea under pressure to take inevitable choice against military buildup by China and Japan SEOUL -- As China and Japan accelerate the buildup of naval power to protect their own maritime sovereignty in Northeast Asia, South Korea is under pressure to take an inevitable choice with the construction of warships and submarines with excellent maneuverability despite constant checks by its long-time ally, which has been reluctant to transfer sensitive military equipment and technologies. China was the first Asian country to build a nuclear-powered and runs mo 2020-11-12