South Korean Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Oct 5, 2018

Jura said:

a botched howitzer, AShM, and tank inside
T-X loss casts shadow over South Korean arms exports

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now "an interceptor" was reportedly doing a half of Mach number:
Doubts arise over South Korea’s ‘Sea Bow’ missile interception ability

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[muted laughter]

Aug 30, 2018

Jura said:

Jun 12, 2018
and
Trump makes it clear: No military exercises with South Korea

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and again
US cancels major military exercise with South Korea

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The US and South Korea decided Friday to suspend another major joint military exercise to give the diplomatic process with North Korea "every opportunity to continue."
"Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis and Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo decided to suspend Exercise Vigilant Ace to give the diplomatic process every opportunity to continue," chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana White said in a statement.
The decision was made during Mattis' meeting with his counterpart in Singapore.
The exercise was due to take place in December. Last year's iteration of the Vigilant Ace involved 12,000 US troops and some 230 military aircraft from the US and South Korea.
President Donald Trump has long criticized US military exercises with South Korea, calling them expensive and provocative and suspending several major exercises following his June summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore.
"The President believes that his relationship with Kim Jong Un is a very good and warm one, and there is no reason at this time to be spending large amounts of money on joint US-South Korea war games. Besides, the President can instantly start the joint exercises again with South Korea, and Japan, if he so chooses," the White House said in a statement in August that was subsequently tweeted by Trump.
Trump's pick to lead US troops in South Korea, Gen. Robert Abrams, told Congress last month that the suspension of the exercises had resulted in a "slight degradation" to the readiness of US and Korean troops but called the decision a "prudent risk" to improve relations with Pyongyang.
White said Friday that both Mattis and his South Korean counterpart "are committed to modifying training exercises to ensure the readiness of our forces," saying "they pledged to maintain close coordination and evaluate future exercises."
She also said that Mattis had consulted with Japan's Minister of Defense Takeshi Iwaya on this matter, and they reaffirmed their commitment to regional security.

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noted
Navy pushes to create task fleet for blue-water operations

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South Korea's Navy said Friday that it will push to create a task fleet capable of broader-range operations beyond its shores, in another show of its desire to build blue-water capabilities.

During a parliamentary audit at the Gyeryongdae military headquarters, 160 kilometers south of Seoul, it also said that it would pursue the creation of an aviation command in line with its expanded maritime operations.

The Navy envisions a task fleet consisting of three task squadrons that carry high-tech assets, such as its Aegis-equipped destroyers.

The task fleet will be part of the second operational command in charge of potential and non-military threats, while the Navy's first, second and third fleets will be incorporated into the first operational command tasked with countering North Korean threats, officials said.

"The task fleet will contribute to securing maritime traffic routes and ensuring the free maritime operations and safety of our citizens through the expansion of our operational areas into far seas," the Navy said.

"The envisioned aviation command that will run maritime patrol aircraft and choppers will ensure the completeness of various maritime aviation operations," it added.

The Navy started to use the blue-water slogan in the mid-1990s in a show of its desire to expand the scope of its operations beyond the peninsula to protect sea lines of communication and maritime peace in the region and beyond.

But with Pyongyang's repeated attacks, such as its sinking of the corvette Cheonan in March 2010, the Navy was forced to look inward for some time to avoid criticism that it was neglecting its coastal defense against the North.

However, ongoing efforts for inter-Korean rapprochement and potential maritime threats from surrounding powers, such as China and Japan, have highlighted the need for the Navy to refocus on its blue-water capabilities.

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ROK Navy tests SM-2 missile variants in exercises

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good

The Republic of Korea Navy conducted five SM-2 surface-to-air missile test flights in back-to-back exercises this summer, missile manufacturer Raytheon announced.

ROKN fired two Block IIIA missiles in an initial exercise to test the missiles’ advanced semi-active radar seeker technology. During a second exercise, the navy destroyed three aerial threats using the Block IIIB variant.

“These successful flight tests add to SM-2’s impressive legacy of more than 2,700 successful firings,” said Mitch Stevison, Raytheon Air and Missile Defense Systems vice president. “As we begin to produce a new generation of SM-2s, the missile will be in the inventories of navies worldwide for decades to come.”

Raytheon restarted the SM-2 missile line in 2017 to meet global demands from international customers, which include eight international countries.

New deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2020 and will include more than 280 SM-2 Block IIIA and IIIB missiles.

The SM-2 missile gives navies the capability to defend against anti-ship missiles and aircraft out to 90 nautical miles.

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The KF-16 is a South Korean multi-role fighter.

The KF-16 is a South Korean multi-role fighter. It is a license-produced version of the American F-16. It was locally produced by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).



Production began in the early 1990s. A total of 140 KF-16 aircraft were produced. These aircraft are based on American F-16C (single seat) and F-16D (two seat) Block 52 aircraft. The first KF-16 fighters were delivered to the South Korean air force in 1994. At the time it was a modern warplane. The last aircraft was delivered in 2003. Today this aircraft is actively used in South Korea.

While looking just like the F-16, the KF-16 has some changes to meet local requirements.

The KF-16 has air-to-air and ground-attack capabilities. Furthermore it can fly in all weather conditions and carry smart weapons. This multi-role fighter has 7 hardpoints and 2 wing tip mounts. These mounts are used to carry AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles. The KF-16 can also carry beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, such as AIM-120 AMRAAM, or air-to-surface missiles such as AGM-65D, cruise missiles, or anti-ship missiles. This fighter can also carry free-fall or precision-guided bombs, Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), rocket pods, or fuel tanks. There is an integral M61 Vulcan 20 mm 6-barrel cannon.

The KF-16 has limited air defense suppression capability. This aircraft has a provision of the HARM targeting system pod.

This South Korean aircraft has an APG-68(V)7 multi-mode radar. Other features include a wide-angle Head-Up Display (HUD). This aircraft carries chaff/flare dispenser for self-defense against incoming missiles. The KF-16 also has a radar jamming system.

The KF-16 is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 turbofan engine. This engine is fitted with an afterburner and generates 79 kN of dry thrust and 129.4 kN with afterburning. This engine powers late models of the F-16 and F-15E Strike Eagle.

Despite its age the KF-16 is still actively used by the South Korean air force. There are plans to upgrade this aircraft with modern systems, such as new radar, armament, mission computers, electronic systems and cockpit instruments. It would improve its combat capabilities. In 2014 a deal between South Korea and BAE Systems was announced to upgrade some 134 KF-16 fighters, however later South Korean government cancelled it. In 2015 it was announced that Lockheed Martin company was selected to carry out upgrades. So if this deal comes through, the aircraft will be upgraded to the F-16V standard.

Variants

KF-16C is a single-seat multi-role fighter. It is based on American F-16C.
KF-16D is a twin-seat multi-role fighter. It is based on American F-16D.

KAI pursues indigenous VTOL UAV development

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has launched an internally funded programme to develop an indigenous multirole vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to meet a future Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) requirement, with flight trials expected to commence in 2019.

KAI officials told Jane’s that the Night Intruder 600 VT is the company’s first attempt at developing a VTOL UAV. The prototype air vehicle has an overall length of 9 m, width of 2 m, height of 2.5 m, and a planned maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 600 kg. However, its MTOW could be extended to more than 750 kg when the programme matures.

S. Korea navy destroyer Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong (DDG 993) launches Raytheon SM-2 missile during exercises

European systems boost South Korean naval buildups




SEOUL — The toward developing an ocean-going force, but it’s defense companies a continent over that are largely supporting the Navy’s arms buildup efforts.

The service has selected the British firm Rolls-Royce for its MT30 marine gas turbine to power a new class of six FFX-III frigates to be deployed in the mid-2020s.

The contract is the second of its kind since it chose the MT30, a derivative of the Rolls-Royce Trent 800 aero engine, in 2012 to power its Daegu-class frigates under the FFX-II program, aimed at commissioning up to eight 2,800-ton vessels armed with advanced naval warfare systems.

The lead ship of the Daegu class recently entered service with three other hulls under construction. The 3,000-ton FFX-III batch is under exploratory development.

“The next-generation frigates of the FFX-II and FFX-III feature stealthy design and higher performances with a broader operational range,” said Bang Geuk-cheol, a secretary with the warship programs department of the Defence Acquisition Program Administration. “In particular, the new frigates will have far better survivability with the help of a quiet hybrid propulsion system to conduct more effective anti-submarine operations. The warships will play a pivotal role in defending the waters surrounding the Korean Peninsula.”

Weighing 6,500 kilograms, or about 14,330 pounds, the MT30 is known to offer a maximum power rating between 36 megawatts and 40 megawatts. The FFX-II batch is fitted with a single MT30 and four diesel generators to provide quiet operations and increased fuel efficiency. The ship normally is electrically propelled but is able to operate at full speed using the MT30 turbine.

South Korea army will receive more wheeled armored vehicles for infantrymen



South Korea's Army unveiled an ambitious plan Thursday, October 18, 2018, to equip all of its infantry squads with advanced wheeled armored vehicles and other APC Armored Personnel Carrier by 2030.

Korean surface-to-air anti-missile (K-SAAM) unable to thwart incoming missiles based on test evaluations



SEOUL — South Korea’s indigenous close-in weapon system, currently in the final development phase, will be unable to thwart incoming missiles based on test evaluations, according to military and industry sources.