Armée Sud Coréene/Republic of Korea Armed Forces ( RoKAF )

Citation :

DATE:25/03/09
SOURCE:Flight International
Elbit Systems lands helmet-mounted display deal with South Korea
By Arie Egozi

Elbit Systems has received a contract to supply advanced helmet-mounted display systems for the South Korean army's Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH) programme.

Under the deal, Elbit will supply prime contractor Korea Aerospace Industries with equipment for its ongoing development effort, which is expected to lead to the manufacture of up to 250 tactical transport helicopters. The Israeli company's initial contract covers those development aircraft due to be delivered in 2009-10, but it believes the agreement could lead to follow-on orders to equip the entire KUH fleet and additional military rotorcraft.

"We believe this selection will lead to further head-up display projects in South Korea and worldwide," says Yoram Shmuely, co-general manager of Elbit's Aerospace Division.

Elbit says its helmet-mounted display systems enable helicopter pilots to fly with their "head out of the cockpit", boosting situational awareness and safety by projecting essential flight data, plus navigation waypoints and threat data into their line of sight.

Citation :

NOV 15

South Korea cleared to buy 38 air defense Standard Missile 6 SM-6 Block I missiles


On November 14, the U.S. Security Cooperation Agency announced that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible
Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea of Standard Missile 6 Block I (SM-6 Blk I) and related equipment for an estimated cost of
$650 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.


The USS Lake Erie launches a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1B, successfully intercepting a medium-range ballistic missile target near Kauai,
Hawaii. (Picture source: Dvids)



http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2023/11/south-korea-cleared-to-buy-38-air.html  

Citation :

LAST UPDATED: 05 DECEMBER 2023




South Korea goes Brazilian

Another win for Embraer’s C-390 tactical transport aircraft as South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) assigned budget for the 2nd large transport programme.

Rather unexpectedly, DAPA selected the Embraer C-390 Millennium as the winner of the programme, which probably is a blow for Lockheed Martin. That company thought it made the best chance with its bid for providing the C-130J, as the Dae Han Min Guk Gong Gun (RoKAF, Republic of Korea Air Force) is already operating several variants of the Hercules. The third contender was Airbus with its A400M Atlas transporter.

DAPA officials announced that part of the selection of the Millennium was due to Embraer’s favourable trade options, promising a large amount of work for Soth Korean sub-contractors. The total number of aircraft to be acquired is not known yet, however with the current budget assigned to the programme, a maximum of three aircraft is expected for the moment.

South Korea is the first Asian operator and the seventh nation to select the C-390 after Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria and the Czech Republic. According to Embraer, talks for possible future acquisitions are underway with Sweden, Greece, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

Credit image: EMBRAER


https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/south-korea-goes-brazilian  

Citation :

DEC 14

South Korea deploys new Baekho 8X8 command post armored vehicles


On 13 December 2023, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced the deployment of Baekho advanced command post
vehicle to the army. This action is part of a broader initiative to incorporate high-tech equipment into the military, thereby improving operational
effectiveness and responsiveness.


Hyundai Rotem Baekho command post-wheeled vehicles. (Picture source: South Korea MoD)


https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2023/12/south-korea-deploys-new-baekho-8x8.html  

Citation :

 DEC 28

South Korea Army signs contract for new Light Attack Helicopters


On December 2023, South Korea, through its Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), finalized a significant contract with Korea
Aerospace Industries (KAI). The deal, worth 1.4 trillion won (approximately $1.08 billion), is aimed at enhancing the aerial combat power of
the National Army by introducing new Light Attack Helicopters (LAHs).



The LAH has been developed from the Eurocopter EC155 following an agreement between the multinational manufacturer Airbus Helicopters
and KAI made in 2015 (Picture source: KAI)


https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2023/12/south-korea-army-signs-contract-for-new.html  

Citation :

DEC 28

Hanwha Ocean to build third JangBogo III KSS-III Batch II submarine


According to information published by the South Korean MoD on December 22, 2023, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) of
South Korea announced a significant step in its naval defense capabilities by signing a contract with Hanwha Ocean. Valued at 1.1 trillion won, the
contract is for the construction of the third vessel in the Jang Bogo-III Batch-II submarine series.



Artist rendering of the future submarine. (Picture source: South Korean MoD)


https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2023/12/hanwha-ocean-to-build-third-jangbogo.html  

Citation :

JAN 2

South Korean Air Force to receive 20 additional Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs


On December 27, 2023, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) confirmed a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) signed with the United States government
for the procurement of 20 Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter aircraft, as reported by Clément Charpentreau in AeroTime. This acquisition was authorized
by the United States in September 2023, allowing for the potential purchase of up to 25 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighters.



The 20 newly acquired F-35As are slated to be integrated into the ROKAF fleet by 2027, supplementing the existing 39 F-35As already in service
(Picture source: Lockheed Martin/Mikaela Maschmeier)


https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2024/01/south-korean-air-force-to-receive-20.html

Citation :

 JAN 4

South Korea's KAI KF-21 Boromae stealth fighter to enter mass production in 2024


According to Newsis on December 21, 2023, South Korea's Ministry of National Defense recently announced an increase in its defense budget for
the year 2024, totaling 59.42 trillion won (approximately $50.2 billion), which represents a 4.2% rise from the previous year. This budget includes
funding for the mass production of the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet, a key component of South Korea's defense strategy.


The KF-21, armed with a 20 mm M61A2 Vulcan rotary autocannon, features a variety of hardpoints for carrying air-to-air and air-to-surface
missiles, precision-guided bombs, and anti-ship missiles (Picture source: KAI)


https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2024/01/south-koreas-kai-kf-21-boromae-stealth.html

Citation :

 JAN 11

South Korea plans more spy satellite launches to detect North Korean missiles


According to News 1 Korea on January 8, 2024, the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has announced plans to
deploy two additional military spy satellites within the current year. These satellites, equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, are
scheduled for launches in April and November 2024 from the US Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, utilizing SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets.



The South Korean spy satellites are expected to be launched using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets. (Picture source: SpaceX)


https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2024/01/south-korea-plans-more-spy-satellite.html  

Citation :

JAN 12

South Korean Air Force strengthens air surveillance with L3Harris Bombardier's Global 6500 platform


The South Korean Air Force, in collaboration with the AEW&C team spearheaded by L3Harris, has unveiled a sophisticated Airborne Early Warning
and Control (AEW&C) solution. The heart of this AEW&C system is its incorporation of the combat-tested mission design, integrated into the
advanced Bombardier Global 6500 platform. This integration ensures that the system is not only robust in capability but also cost-effective in terms
of development and maintenance. The adoption of the Bombardier Global 6500, known for its high-altitude and long-range capabilities, signifies
a major enhancement in the surveillance and defense capabilities of the South Korean Air Force.


L3Harris teamed with Korean industry to develop and deliver the next generation of survivable, high-altitude airborne early warning and control
aircraft to the Republic of Korea Air Force. (Picture source: L3Harris)


https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2024/01/south-korean-air-force-strengthens-air.html  

Citation :

MAR 20

South Korea Deploys New K30W Chunho Air Defense System During Freedom Shield 24 Exercise with US


During the military exercise, Freedom Shield 24 (FS24) involved U.S. and South Korean soldiers in South Korea, the latest generation of mobile
air defense system called K30W Chunho was deployed by the South Korean armed forces. Freedom Shield 24 (FS24) is an 11-day military exercise
that began on March 4 and continued until March 14, 2024.



The new K30W Chunho mobile self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system was deployed during the military exercise Freedom Shield 24 in South
Korea. (Picture source Korea Defence Blog X account)


https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2024/03/south-korea-deploys-new-k30w-chunho-air.html

Three short-range air defense systems that participated in recent US-ROK exercise:

1) K30 Biho
2) K30W Chunho
3) K31 Chunma pic.twitter.com/5i7840fis3

— Korea Defense Blog (@Korea_Defense) March 19, 2024

Marines and soldiers assigned to the ROK Northwest Island Defense Command (NWIDC) carried out a rapid reinforcement exercise on Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong Islands on 15MAR24.

Located along the western Northern Limit Line (NLL), the NW Islands are vulnerable to DPRK attacks. pic.twitter.com/XmlvzqSnrV

— Korea Defense Blog (@Korea_Defense) March 18, 2024

Recent photos of South Korea's new K13 carbines in use by Navy and Air Force Special Warfare operators.

K13 (also known as STC-16) was developed by SNT Motiv as a replacement for aging Daewoo K1A carbines in ROK SOF service. 1,700 carbines have been ordered so far. pic.twitter.com/HdqxGL7qcP

— Korea Defense Blog (@Korea_Defense) March 18, 2024

Citation :

Peru has selected the South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries as primary shipbuilding partner to boost local industry on 28MAR24.
Part of a greater modernization program, the $460 million contract will oversee local construction of 1x FFG, 1x OPV, and 2x amphibs.

Peru plans to locally build 23 ships to modernize its fleet. South Korean bid was selected over competing bids from Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, France, and USA. South Korea is now in an advantageous position to support and influence future Peruvian naval shipbuilding.

South Korean government has been actively engaging the Peruvian government for the past decade via multiple defense sales, support to local industry, and transfer of retired military equipment, such as aircraft and warships.