Military

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  KAI wins $360 mln deal from Iraq to provide follow-up support for light attack aircraft SEOUL -- South Korea's sole aircraft maker has secured a deal worth $360 million from the Iraqi government to provide logistics support, pilot flight training and maintenance education for light attack and training aircraft. With technology from U.S. partner Lockheed Martin, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) produced South Korea's first supersonic trainer, T-50, which has been developed into aerobatic and combat variants such as FA-50. KAI has exported or secured orders to 2021-11-08
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  KAI selected as preferred bidder for operation and mission system of new medium-altitude spy planes SEOUL -- Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the sole aircraft maker in South Korea, has been selected as the preferred bidder for a military project to develop the operation and mission system of new medium-altitude spy planes with domestic technology. It is the second-round program to enhance the performance of Baekdu-class planes. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), a state arms procurement agency, has launched a project worth 877.5 billion won ($745.6 million) 2021-11-01
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  S. Korea embarks on development of close-in weapon system for warships SEOUL -- South Korea will embark on the development of a homemade close-in weapon system that would be used for the defense of next-generation destroyers and other warships against incoming threats such as small speed boats, surface torpedoes, missiles and helicopters penetrating outer defenses. Self-developed radar technologies will be adopted. A close-in weapon system (CIWS) has two types. A gun-based system usually consists of a combination of radars, computers, and rapid-firin 2021-10-29
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  Defense research agency develops real-time biochemical contamination monitoring technology SEOUL -- South Korea's state-run defense technology research body has developed a high-resolution image-based real-time monitoring technology that will help soldiers and emergency personnel to analyze areas contaminated by biochemical substances, predict the level of damage, and come up with a counterplan for evacuation and cleansing. The detection and monitoring of biochemical and radioactive substances during a war or disastrous situations are vital processes that could affect 2021-10-26
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  (FOCUS) Inter-Korean missile race shifts to sarcastic discounting of each other's technology level SEOUL -- An inter-Korean missile race that intensified in 2021 shifted to an exchange of sarcastic words discounting the level of skills that the other other side has achieved. Foreign experts look more interested in why North Korea has not yet launched its true ballistic missile submarine while reasoning that the latest test of Pyongyang's submarine-launched ballistic missile was seen as a response to South Korea’s aggressive missile buildup. The two Koreas have reveal 2021-10-22
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  Hyundai Rotem's leg-wheel military robot makes debut at aerospace and defense exhibition SEOUL -- A leg-wheel military robot developed by Hyundai Rotem made its debut at an international aerospace and defense exhibition hosted by South Korea. The ultimate mobility vehicle (UMV) uses wheels in flat terrain, but intelligent robot legs use walking ability in rough terrain for various missions such as surveillance and the transportation of injured people and goods. Remote and autonomous driving is possible. Hyundai Rotem, a subsidiary of South Korea's Hyundai auto gro 2021-10-19
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  Military project launched to develop system capable of predicting weather changes in space SEOUL -- South Korea launched a military project to develop a system that accurately predicts weather changes in space such as sunspots to minimize malfunction or damage to advanced weapons such as high-altitude unmanned air vehicles and precision-guided weapons. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), a state arms procurement agency, said it has selected Satrec Initiative, a satellite company controlled by Hanwha Aerospace, for a 16.2 billion won ($13.7 million) proj 2021-10-19
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  Hanwha Systems selected for shipment of detectors capable of discovering non-metallic mines SEOUL -- Hanwha Systems, a defense contractor affiliated with South Korea's Hanwha Group, has sealed a military deal to deliver some 1,600 new detectors that could find anti-personnel metal and non-metallic land mines including North Korean wooden-box mines. Shipment is to begin in the second half of 2022. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) controlled by the defense ministry said Hanwha Systems has been awarded a contract worth 58 billion won ($48.9 million) 2021-10-18
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  Hanwha Defense starts test operation of military intelligent unmanned ground vehicle SEOUL -- South Korea's major defense contractor Hanwha Defense and an army infantry division have started the test operation of a six-wheeled multi-role unmanned ground vehicle that can carry up to 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) of cargo and travel more than 100 kilometers (62.1 miles) per charge. Hanwha Defense has previously showcased a multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicle (M-UGV), a four-wheeled 1.5-ton electric vehicle that can move at a top speed of 30 kilometers per hour on 2021-10-08
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  S. Korea launches 3rd 3,000-ton attack submarine capable of firing ballistic missiles SEOUL -- South Korea launched its third 3,000-ton attack submarine capable of firing ballistic missiles. The diesel-electric submarine featuring advanced noise reduction technologies can operate underwater for 20 days without surfacing. The third 3,000-ton submarine named "Shin Chae-ho" was built at the shipyard of Hyundai Heavy Industries, while two 3,000-ton submarines have been constructed by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). With the launch of S 2021-09-28
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  S. Korea aims to launch homemade space rocket with solid-propellant booster in 2024 SEOUL -- South Korea will launch a homemade rocket with solid-propellant boosters to place a small reconnaissance satellite in 2024, using technology acquired through the combustion test of a solid-propellant rocket engine in July that came after Washington revised missile guidelines, allowing Seoul to develop and possess space launch vehicles using solid fuel. Liquid-propellant rockets offer more efficient and controllable alternatives, but solid rockets are used in military armame 2021-09-16
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  LIG Nex1 secures contract to produce terminals for military satellite communication system SEOUL -- LIG Nex1, a defense contractor involved in the development of radar and missile guidance systems, secured a military contract to produce communication terminals for a military satellite communication system linked to ANASIS-II, a military communications satellite launched in July 2020 atop a rocket manufactured by U.S commercial space firm SpaceX. The military project is aimed at supporting stable communication 24 hours a day anywhere by supplementing a ground communication 2021-09-15
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  Hanwha Defense bolsters K9 bid in Britain thru partnership with local companies SEOUL -- Hanwha Defense bolstered its bid for a British arms acquisition program through the creation of an industrial partnership called "Team Thunder" with local defense companies on the sidelines of a defense and security trade exhibition in London to supply a variant of the world's most popular self-propelled howitzer, K9 Thunder. During the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) on September 14-17 at ExCel, Hanwha Defense is to sign memorandums of u 2021-09-14
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  S. Korea discloses military project to establish fleet of ultra-small spy satellites SEOUL -- South Korea disclosed a military project to establish a fleet of ultra-small spy satellites that would be used to quickly detect asymmetric threats from North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles. The project begins in 2022 to launch the first ultra-small satellite in 2025. South Korea, which relies heavily on American reconnaissance assets to monitor North Korea, aims to acquire an independent reconnaissance satellite system. The combination of a military reconnaissanc 2021-09-10
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  Daewoo shipyard wins defense contract to build second 3,600-ton diesel-electric submarine SEOUL -- Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering has secured a defense contract worth 985.7 billion won ($840 million) to build South Korea's second 3,600-ton diesel-electric submarine installed with lithium-ion batteries that are more power-efficient than lead-acid batteries, take up less space and improve underwater navigation capability and high-speed maneuvering. Submarines using lead-acid batteries surface regularly to vent poisonous fumes created in the processes of c 2021-09-10
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  S. Korea launches new 2,800-ton frigate with hybrid propulsion system SEOUL -- South Korea's navy launched a new 2,800-ton frigate armed with a five-inch cannon, guided missiles and torpedoes at the shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. It was the sixth FFX Batch II frigate which is 122 meters long and features a hybrid propulsion system to reduce underwater radiated noise and a towed array passive sonar system. The FFX Batch II frigate can accommodate a maritime helicopter and carry Hongsangeo (Red Shark) torpedoes and ship- 2021-09-08
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  S. Korea develops structural design and flight control algorithm for tailless military drones SEOUL -- South Korea's military technology development agency has developed core technologies such as aerial structure design and flight control algorithms for low-observable, tailless unmanned aerial vehicles. The acquisition of core stealth technologies will accelerate the deployment of Kaori-X, a strike fighter-sized tailless drone under development. Unlike ordinary military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the shapes of miniaturized airplanes, tailless drones do not have 2021-09-07
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  S. Korea becomes SLBM holder with successful test launch from new submarine: report SEOUL -- South Korea made a quiet surprise with unconfirmed reports that a homemade submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) was successfully tested. As a result, South Korea has virtually completed the development of SLBMs, becoming the world's eighth SLBM holder after the United States, Russia, Britain, France, India, China and North Korea, Yonhap News said. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD), a state-run defense technology research body, supervised an underwater in 2021-09-07
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  S. Korea's new military buildup program calls for development of powerful ballistic missile SEOUL -- South Korea's defense ministry disclosed plans to develop a strong ballistic missile with significantly increased destructive power, sparking speculation the new weapon would be an enhanced successor to the Hyunmoo-4 missile with a maximum range of 800 kilometers (497 miles) and a warhead weight of two tons. The development of a new ballistic missile was contained in a five-year defense buildup program unveiled on September 2. There have been unconfirmed reports that So 2021-09-02
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  S. Korea develops core technology to maximize performance of gunpowder SEOUL -- Through a five-year project, South Korea's defense technology agency has developed a core technology that can be used for maximizing the performance of gunpowder to increase the damage of projectiles. The agency said that its technology is ideal for destroying buildings and armored vehicles. Gunpowder is a mixture of sulfur, carbon and potassium nitrate. Normally, gunpowder is solely used to propel a bullet out of a cartridge case. Some ammunitions use a propellant comp 2021-08-24