South Korean Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Republic of Korea Navy commissioned on 17 January 2013 the first of its next next generation FFX I class Frigate. The ship was by Hyundai Heavy Industry and is expected to replace the aging fleet of Pohang class corvettes and Ulsan class frigates, and take over multi-role operations such as coast patrol or anti-submarine warfare.

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AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Republic of Korea has selected the AW159 helicopter to meet its Maritime Operational Helicopter requirement. The contract for eight AW159 helicopters for the Republic of Korea Navy is the first export order for this new generation aircraft, known as the AW159 Wildcat in UK service. This contract, which includes aircrew and maintainer training, initial spares and support services, will help sustain several hundred jobs at AgustaWestland’s Yeovil factory in the UK as well as many jobs within the extensive UK supply chain. The Company is already delivering AW159 Wildcats into service in the UK to fulfil the UK Ministry of Defence’s order for 62 AW159 helicopters for the Royal Navy and British Army. Deliveries of the AW159s for the Republic of Korea will start in 2015 and be completed in 2016.

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navyreco said:

This thread for Republic of Korea Military News

Republic of Korea Navy commissions First of Class "Incheon" FFX I Frigate

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Jeff Head said:

Nice Frigates...and apparently there will three batches or types, the Genral Purpose, Anti-Air and ASW.

I have to say, with their KDX DDGs and now their FFX FFGs, the ROKN is making a very systematic and outstanding modernization of their fleet.

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Scratch said:

If I'm counting correctly, that's the 4th type of major surface combatant the RoKN is comissioning in about 10 years. A pretty comprehensive modernisation indeed. This type, the initial GP version, is supposedly a costal defense asset. A modern ship able to react to small boat and arty threats (almost asymetrical) and to fight small subs in the littorals will come in very handy for the South Koreans.

The third phase of their fighter modernization program is also underway. So far, they've bought 60 F-15K Slam Eagles. Pretty capable aircraft. For the next round, another type might be on the table.

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SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Yonhap) - The Eurofighter Tranche 3 Typhoon by the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS) has reportedly been eliminated from South Korea's multibillion-dollar fighter jet project, leaving Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle as the sole final candidate, government sources said Sunday.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said that one of the two finalists -- Boeing and EADS -- in the nation's 8.3 trillion won (US$7.2 billion) fighter project has dropped out of the bidding due to problems with their documents.

EADS is known as the company to have stepped out of the race, according to sources in Seoul.

"We disqualified the concerned company and will consider the remaining one firm as a candidate in the committee for defense procurement projects," the DAPA said in a release, citing "flaws found in the bidding documents" as reasons of the elimination.

Although the DAPA required the bidders to submit prices for 15 two-seater jets and 45 single-seat jets, EADS reduced the number of double-seater aircraft to six, and offered prices based on the British pound, according to a company official.

"We submitted the proposal to meet the budget because two-seater jets are more expensive than single-seat jets," the senior EADS official said. "Out of 54 jets, the proposal offers to assemble 53 aircraft in South Korea."

The DAPA will conduct an assessment on the jets and finally pick a winner in a committee meeting, which is to be presided over by Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin in mid-September, according to officials.........

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thunderchief said:

Boeing's F-15SE reportedly chosen as final candidate for S. Korea's next fighter plane

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Jeff Head said:

Makes good sense for the ROK.

They already have, what? 61 F-15K Slam Eagles that were completed delivering in 2012. Going with this newer version of the Eagle will allow them some commonality from a maintenance and training perspective.

In addition, with the new radar absorbant outer material, the AESA radar, internal weapons bays, a lighter weight, more fuel efficient, fly-by-wire controls, and digital EW equipment, the SE will also be a very good, near 5th gen aircraft and a good inprovement over their existing inventory.

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SACHEON, South Korea (Reuters) - South Korea, renowned for making hi-tech consumer devices, cars and ships, now has its sights on exporting fighter jets amid a projected sharp increase in demand for military weapons in Asia over the next decade.

South Korea's first home-built light fighter, the FA-50, will roll out on Tuesday from the Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd (KAI) assembly plant in the southern city of Sacheon.

KAI officials say that they aim to sell about 1,000 FA-50s and T-50s overseas over the next three decades, and are eyeing markets in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and the Americas.

"Countries in Southeast Asia and South America are finding FA-50s enormously attractive," Park Jeong-soo, a senior official from KAI's external affairs department told reporters.

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thunderchief said:

But I guess F-15SE would be more than good enough against NK and they don't see China or Japan as immediate threat . Also they plan to introduce large number of indigenous F-50 (fighter version of T-50).

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