Military

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  S. Korea proposes development of space rocket using hybrid engine SEOUL -- South Korea will push for the development of a new space rocket installed with a hybrid engine using solid and liquid fuels together that can increase the weight of space launch vehicles in a shorter period of time. A hybrid engine can operate space launch vehicles more flexibly and quickly depending on missions and purposes and significantly reduce the time required to advance technology. The development of a hybrid rocket motor that uses one propellant in solid form and t 2022-02-23
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  ADD develops methanol reforming technology for submarine hydrogen fuel cells SEOUL -- South Korea's defense technology development agency has developed the technology of methanol-reforming plant for hydrogen fuel cells that can enhance the operational performance of submarines. It directly produces high-purity hydrogen that can be produced in submarines by reforming methanol. Submarine fuel cells use high-purity hydrogen as fuel to increase the underwater time. An air-independent fuel cell propulsion system increases underwater endurance, diving depth 2022-02-22
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  S. Korea's light armed helicopter project passes low-temperature flight test in Canada SEOUL -- The development of South Korea's first light-armed helicopter crossed a major hurdle in the assessment of its effectiveness and suitability for combat, about four years after a prototype was released in 2018. The nine-week test was done in a Canadian territory with an average winter temperature of minus 32 degrees Celsius. The test of the light-armed helicopter (LAH) developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) was carried out in Yellow Knife, the capital city of Canad 2022-02-18
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  Evaluation of Hanwha Redback's operational fit in S. Korea scheduled to begin in April SEOUL -- A Redback infantry fighting vehicle developed by Hanwha Defense will be tested at an army panzer battalion in South Korea to evaluate its operational fit in April, a month after the tracked combat vehicle returned home following its successful test and evaluation as one of the two final candidates for an Australian military project to replace old armored personnel carriers. Three prototypes of a Redback variant called AS21 have been sent to Australia for tests and evalua 2022-02-18
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  Defense tech agency develops 3D precision targeting technique for guided weapon systems SEOUL -- Through a four-year project, South Korea's defense technology development agency has developed a three-dimensional precision targeting technique for guided weapon systems. The technique allows weapon operators to quickly extract target information including location data. While some guided weapons such as fire-and-forget tank hunter missiles rely on cameras and sensors to find the optimal path to its prey, most weapon systems need the manual work of inserting various 2022-02-08
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  S. Korea starts field deployment of homemade 120mm self-propelled mortar system SEOUL -- The field deployment of South Korea's homemade 120-millimeter self-propelled mortar system integrated into a tracked armored personnel carrier has begun to replace the aging 4.2-inch system which has been in use for decades. The new system features automated fire control and improved firepower support capabilities that enable a rapid and precise attack. The first batch of 120mm self-propelled mortar systems along with fire control vehicles has been delivered to a mechan 2022-02-04
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  Egypt becomes first foreign country to adopt K9's naval variant from Hanwha Defense SEOUL -- Egypt is the first foreign country to adopt a naval variant of South Korea's K9 self-propelled howitzer as an area denial weapon system that is used to prevent an adversary from occupying or traversing an area of land, sea or air. Along with technology transfer, Hanwha Defense will provide a variety of support programs including training and maintenance. It would be the first export of a naval K9 variant, proving the tracked artillery’s versatile operational cap 2022-02-03
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  Hanwha Systems shows confidence over superiority of radar installed in Cheongung missile interceptor SEOUL -- Through a major defense contract with the United Arab Emirates, Hanwha Systems showed confidence over the performance superiority of its multifunction radar system installed in South Korea's Cheongung homemade medium-range guided interceptor capable of blocking both ballistic missiles and aircraft and vowed to push for exports to other countries in the Middle East and Southeast. Together with LIG Nex1, Hanwha Systems is a key contractor in a deal worth $3.5 bil 2022-01-17
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  Performance of homemade anti-missile jamming system proven thru flight test SEOUL -- The performance of South Korea's homemade anti-missile system has been proven in a flight test using a military helicopter. A defense technology development agency confirmed that the system's response time has been drastically shortened to fend off a close distance attack from portable anti-aircraft missiles. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) said that South Korea became the sixth country in the world to develop directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM), 2022-01-12
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  Combat deployment of unmanned military ground vehicles begins after 6-month test SEOUL -- The warfare-ready deployment of multi-purpose two-ton unmanned ground vehicles developed by Hyundai Rotem, a subsidiary of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, began after they passed a six-month military test operation in front-line border areas. It was the first unmanned vehicle that has been introduced by South Korean troops. Hyundai Rotem said its six-wheeled multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) with cameras that can detect images up to four kilometers away d 2022-01-10
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  [CES 2022] Hanwha Systems ties up with Funzin to develop edge AI system LAS VEGAS -- Hanwha Systems, a defense contractor affiliated with South Korea's Hanwha Group, tied up with Funzin, a domestic software development and edge AI solution company, to develop an edge AI system that uses machine learning algorithms to process data generated by a hardware device at the local level. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Hanwha Systems and Funzin ahead of CES 2022 in Las Vegas. Edge AI is a core technology of an edge cloud system with high pe 2022-01-05
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  ADD develops hyperspectral imaging detection system for aerial reconnaissance SEOUL -- South Korea's defense technology development agency has developed a hyperspectral imaging system to detect and classify targets for aerial reconnaissance using object-specific spectral information. The electro-optical technology can significantly improve target identification capabilities of reconnaissance planes. It was the result of a seven-year program launched by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in 2014 to acquire technologies based on a hyperspectral imag 2022-01-04
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  Military deal signed to produce terminals linked to military satellite communication system SEOUL -- A military project was launched to mass-produce ground terminals linked to a military satellite communication system that would strengthen military power and contribute to the development of South Korea's space defense industry. Uninterrupted satellite communication is possible in contingencies and wartime. The project is aimed at establishing both fixed communication and a tactical information communication network (TICN) that integrates surveillance, reconnaissance 2021-12-27
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  Delivery of new 7.62 mm K16 machine guns begins to replace M60 guns SEOUL -- The delivery of new 7.62 mm K16 machine guns developed by SNT Motiv, a firearms manufacturer, began to replace outdated M60 general-purpose machine guns that have been used for decades by South Korean troops. The new weapon is mounted with thermal imaging scopes combining a compact thermographic camera and an aiming reticle. The shipment of K16 guns came after a ceremony at SNT Motiv's headquarters in the southern port city of Busan on December 15 under a contract wit 2021-12-15
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  Australia becomes 7th foreign country to operate K-9 self-propelled howitzer SEOUL -- Australia became the seventh foreign country to operate South Korea's K-9 self-propelled howitzer developed by Hanwha Defense after a contract was signed in Canberra following a bilateral defense cooperation agreement endorsed by the leaders of the two countries. The K9 is by far the most popular self-propelled howitzer in the world. About 600 K-9s have been exported to Turkey, India, Poland, Norway, Finland and Estonia. The supply of 30 AS9 Huntsman self-propelled ho 2021-12-13
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  Technologies developed for portable long-distance chemical weapon detection equipment SEOUL -- South Korea's state-run agency has acquired core technologies that can detect chemical weapons early and monitor the spread of fatal pollutants in real-time from a long distance by using two-dimensional infrared ray images and spectroscopic analysis. Developers will seek commercialization through technology transfer to private companies. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) said its technology can reduce the weight of detection equipment for installation on the move 2021-12-08
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  Hanwha Aerospace consortium joins project to develop turboshaft engine technologies SEOUL -- A consortium led by Hanwha Aerospace, an aircraft parts maker in South Korea, tied up with a state research body to develop core technologies for a turboshaft engine that produces shaft power to drive machinery and is mainly used to drive the rotary wings of helicopters. It is part of a military project to develop an unmanned rotorcraft system. The Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement (KRIT) said it would work with a consortium of Hanw 2021-12-06
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  Hanwha's K-9 self-propelled howitzer draws keen interest from Egyptian military SEOUL -- South Korea's K-9 self-propelled howitzer developed by Hanwha Defense is drawing keen interest from the Egyptian military at an international arms exhibition in Cairo, reflecting its growing popularity overseas and the validated performance of firepower, mobility and armored protection. The K9 is by far the most popular self-propelled howitzer in the world. About 600 K-9s have been exported to Turkey, India, Poland, Norway, Finland and Estonia. Australia is in final ne 2021-11-30
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  Veterans office robotic process automation solution to speed up paperwork SEOUL -- A South Korean government agency in charge of veterans has adopted a robotic process automation solution to reduce time put into simple and repetitive paperwork and increase work efficiency. The automated robot solution is expected to save some 18,600 work hours. Robotic process automation (RPA) is an artificial intelligence (AI)-based work assistant solution that takes care of simple and repetitive work such as paperwork, sorting files, categorizing documents, and analyzin 2021-11-29
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  Daewoo shipyard delivers plant installed with methanol steam reforming system for submarine fuel cells SEOUL -- Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, a shipbuilder involved in the construction of attack submarines, delivered a plant installed with a methanol steam reforming system for submarine fuel cells following a successful performance test that met requirements requested by a defense technology provider. The plant that produces high purity hydrogen through methanol and water was delivered to the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), a defense technology development ag 2021-11-24