KAI Proposes Smaller KF-X Design

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is pushing for South Korea to cut the technical challenges of its proposed KF-X fighter program, offering a single-engine concept that probably has a distant connection with the Lockheed Martin F-16. KAI's KFX-E design should be cheaper to develop and build than the larger proposals put forward by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), the chief proponent of the KF-X.

Also much smaller than and more differentiated from the Lockheed Martin F-35, the KFX-E may offer the further advantage of minimizing competition from that U.S. stealth fighter. But it may have Lockheed Martin or other U.S. intellectual property in its design, exposing it to a foreign veto over sales or even development.

Seoul will probably have a foreign alternative to consider, too. Western proposals for KF-X include twin-tail developments of the F-16 and Eurofighter Typhoon, and an advanced version of the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Those offerings were included as technology transfer in bids for the separate F-X Phase 3 program for 60 fighters. F-X Phase 3 has been abandoned, but a successor competition will be needed, probably reviving foreign KF-X proposals.

KAI has moved from cooperation to competition with ADD. For a decade, the manufacturer was a design contractor in support of the agency. But industry officials say that at least some KAI executives have long regarded ADD's plan to develop a twin-engine Typhoon-size KF-X as too ambitious. Meanwhile, the South Korean government has repeatedly deferred launching the KF-X. If it goes ahead, it cannot enter service before the mid-2020s. Cutting costs by accepting a smaller size would probably improve the program's chances.

In July, KAI coyly published a picture of a stealthy KF-X concept related to its T-50 supersonic trainer and called KFX-E (or KF-X-E). It gave no details then and did not respond to Aviation Week's request for comment (AW&ST July 22, p. 33). But now the company has stepped up to make its case for the aircraft, arguing at an official seminar that the KFX-E would meet all air force requirements, except for being powered by just one engine.

South Korean rocket launch set for January 30

Seoul - South Korea Thursday Confirmed That It will make another bid on January 30 to put a satellite in orbit and join elite club of year global space Powers That includes China, Japan and India.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Said the much-Anticipated launch - postponed twice last year - was scheduled to take Place Between 3:55 pm and 7:30 pm (0655 GMT and 1030) next Wednesday.

Preparations by South Korean and Russian experts for the task Were going "smoothly" at the Naro Space Centre on the south coast, it said, Adding the 140-ton rocket Would Be Moved to the launch pad on Monday.

The Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) HAS first internship Manufactured by Russia, with a solid-fuel second stage built in South Korea.

Following failed Attempts in 2009 and 2010 and the last-minute delays in October and November last year due to technical problems, a successful launch is seen as crucial to South Korea's commercial space ambitions.

In 2009, the carrier Achieved orbit, we aim faulty release mécanismes icts second stage Prevented proper deployment of the satellite.

S. Korea to deploy guided missiles at sea border: report

 South Korea plans to deploy Israeli-made precision guided missiles near its tense sea border with North Korea next month, including an island shelled by the North in 2010, a report said Friday.

The South will deploy 50 to 60 Spike anti-tank missiles to two border islands on the Yellow Sea to guard against potential attacks from the North, the Chosun Ilbo daily cited a Seoul military official as saying.

The two islands are Baengnyeong, the closest island to the disputed maritime border, and Yeonpyeong, which was shelled by the North in November 2010 in an attack that left four South Koreans including two civilians dead.

"Work to fix some technical problems found in past test-fire sessions have almost been completed," Chosun quoted the official as saying.

"There is no problem in deploying them (the missiles) by the end of next month," the official was quoted as saying.

The South's defence ministry spokesman declined to confirm the report.

The shelling of Yeonpyeong -- the first attack on civilians since the 1950-1953 Korean War -- sparked brief fears of an all-out conflict and sent cross-border ties into a tailspin.

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The South's military has since strengthened troops and weaponry at five frontier islands off the west coast -- a constant flash point and scene of bloody naval clashes in 1999, 2002 and 2009.

Seoul's military authorities reached a deal in 2011 to buy the Spike missiles developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense System.

AW159 Wildcat Helicopter For South Korean Navy

The AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat is close to securing its first foreign order, with South Korea now officially favouring the type over the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk to serve as its next-generation maritime helicopter.

South Korea's selection was announced on 15 January 2013 and, now, AgustaWestland expects to have closed the deal by around mid-March. The news is a big boost to the AW159 programme: a potential contract valued at 500+ million Euros that will also help keep several hundred AgustaWestland employees in work.

Information released by DAPA - the Republic of Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration - refers to two delivery periods in 2015 and 2016, each involving four Wildcats.

South Korean AW159 Selection

News of the South Korean AW159 selection comes just weeks after the opposite occurred in Denmark, with the MH-60R Seahawk winning over the Wildcat. The Republic of Korea Navy will employ its AW159s in a number of roles. These will include search and rescue, anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare and maritime security.

The Republic of Korea Navy has been active since 1945 and its modern-day naval aviation force consists of some 70 aircraft and helicopters. These include more than 20 Westland Lynx: the forerunner of the AW159 Wildcat.

Odierno: SKorea Ready to Control Wartime Forces

U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno says he believes South Korea is ready to assume wartime operational control of allied forces here as scheduled in 2015.
"Having had the opportunity to work with many nations around the world and many armies throughout my career, I'm very confident that the Republic of Korea … is more than capable of taking over responsibility for their own security," he said during a brief news conference Friday.
"I think it's an important step in our alliance as we continue to move forward," Odierno said.
The planned OPCON transfer has been a hot topic of debate in Washington and Seoul for years, given the threat posed by North Korea and varying opinions about whether the South's military is up to the task of leading the fight should hostilities resume on the peninsula.

The transfer of responsibility was initially supposed to happen in 2007, but was pushed forward to 2012. The date was postponed again in 2010 to the current transfer date of 2015 in the wake of criticism of the South's response to North Korea's sinking of one of its warships earlier that year.
Last summer, a Pentagon-commissioned study suggested the U.S. military take a number of steps to cover for perceived shortcomings in the South's ability to defend itself, including delaying the 2015 OPCON transfer until South Korea's military is better prepared to assume the additional responsibilities.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, in a letter that accompanied that report -- by the Center for Strategic and International Studies -- when it was submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the transfer of authority will go through only if the South proves it is up to the challenge.
There are, he wrote, "a series of planning milestones toward which the department is already working to ensure that wartime OPCON transition occurs as planned with no loss of readiness of our combined forces."
Odierno -- who said he tries to visit South Korea every six months to meet with U.S. Forces Korea and South Korean military leaders, as well as his troops -- echoed Panetta's sentiments at Friday's news conference.
"One of the things we talk about all the time is making sure we have the interoperability to conduct appropriate command and control at all levels, and that's what we continue to work with the Republic of Korea on," he said.

South Korea to speed up development of new missiles

South Korea's new government is to hasten the development and deployment of missiles capable of striking targets anywhere in North Korea.

Seoul reached an agreement with the United States in October last year that enables it to develop ballistic missiles with a range of 800km (497 miles), reducing its reliance on the US military.

Under the previous with Washington, South Korea was limited to domestically developed weapons systems with a range of 300km (187 miles), but Pyongyang's continued belligerence - including last month's launch of a missile and worrying suggestions that the regime might be planning to conduct another nuclear test - have forced Seoul to move the schedule forward.

No specific date has been given for the deployment, with a government official telling Yonhap News that the weapons would be sited as early as possible.

"We will work toward quickly putting in force ballistic missiles with a range of 800km," said Kim Jang-soo, who will oversee North Korean policies as soon as the government of Park Guen-hye is sworn in next month.

"Renewing our security readiness is a pressing matter," said Kim, who also called on the international

K-Pop Star Rain Faces Military Punishment After Rendezvous with Actress

For South Korean pop star Rain, all’s not fair in love and war. The R&B singer is facing possible military punishment for meeting with a well-known Korean actress while on duty during his mandatory military service. South Korea’s defense ministry said Thursday that Rain, whose official name is Jung Ji-hoon, met with popular actress Kim Tae-hee at least three times last year. The meetings took place despite rules that forbid the 30-year-old singer from having private meetings when he is off-base on official military business, which — based on his ascribed role in the armed forces — includes recording and performing for the military’s entertainment corps.

It may have been more than just the secretive dates — well-documented by paparazzi — that irked military officials: Rain also reportedly violated army regulations by not wearing his military cap when he was off-base. The ministry plans to hold a disciplinary committee meeting next week to decide on his punishment, according to local media reports. As for his liaisons with Kim Tae-hee, Rain’s agents have not confirmed nor denied the romance, but Kim’s management agency admitted that the 32-year-old actress has been dating Rain for a month.

How do you say "Iron Dome" in Korean?

Israeli launchers are barely cooled, they are already interested! Seoul could be the first export customer of Israeli system "Iron Dome". This mobile air defense system has been for the IDF, the real star of the operation "Pillar of defense" against Hamas in Gaza. Because according to Israeli figures, "Iron Dome" has been proven and a rate of successful interceptions that over 90%! From November 14 to 23, five batteries deployed intercepted hundreds of Hamas rockets fired into Israeli territory, saving many lives. Developed by Israeli industrial Rafael, the first export customer of the interception system of medium range would be the United States, a time interested in using in Afghanistan to protect U.S. bases. But disengagement is the agenda, discussions stopped.

Rebounding is today South Korea could become the purchaser. The purchase of "Iron Dome" would by Seoul as part of a broader agreement, in which Korean shipyards Daewoo provide four maritime patrol 1000 tons worth $ 400 million. But the North Korean threat is it similar to Hamas? First "Iron Dome" is not suitable for intercepting ballistic missiles, a real threat to Seoul (Taepodong missiles, Nodong ...). Still not a ballistic missile North has referred the south. And the United States, which have nearly 30,000 soldiers on the spot, should deploy THAAD batteries (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and more Patriot systems.

South Korean Naval Cruise Missiles Deployed

The Republic of Korea Navy reportedly now has advanced upgraded long-range cruise missiles in service, with enough range to reach all parts of North Korea.
Speaking to news agency Yonhap, a South Korean military official confirmed that two of the navy's destroyers have become equipped with Hyanmu-3C (also spelt ‘Hyanmoo') missiles. These are likely Sejong the Great class destroyers, of which there's three in service.
These missiles have a 1,500 kilometre range and are said to be so accurate that, even when covering these kinds of distances, they can strike within about 10 feet of their intended targets.

Naval Cruise Missiles Deployed

According to the representative - whose identity was not revealed - with the naval cruise missiles deployed, South Korea has in part issued a reply to North Korea's recent reinforcements in this maritime area.
In particular, there are concerns over the role to be played by a new military hovercraft launching-base, which North Korea's just finished. Vessels launched from this site might be used in anger against South Korean islands sited close to the North/South border - an area that's already hosted several vicious clashes in recent years.
The Hyanmu/Hyanmoo series remain the only South Korean cruise missiles to have seen active service. Translated into English, Hyanmoo/Hyanmu means, literally, ‘Guardian of the Northern Sky'.

South Korean Naval Cruise Missiles Deployed

The Republic of Korea Navy reportedly now has advanced upgraded long-range cruise missiles in service, with enough range to reach all parts of North Korea.

Speaking to news agency Yonhap, a South Korean military official confirmed that two of the navy's destroyers have become equipped with Hyanmu-3C (also spelt ‘Hyanmoo') missiles. These are likely Sejong the Great class destroyers, of which there's three in service.

These missiles have a 1,500 kilometre range and are said to be so accurate that, even when covering these kinds of distances, they can strike within about 10 feet of their intended targets.

Naval Cruise Missiles Deployed

According to the representative - whose identity was not revealed - with the naval cruise missiles deployed, South Korea has in part issued a reply to North Korea's recent reinforcements in this maritime area.

In particular, there are concerns over the role to be played by a new military hovercraft launching-base, which North Korea's just finished. Vessels launched from this site might be used in anger against South Korean islands sited close to the North/South border - an area that's already hosted several vicious clashes in recent years.

The Hyanmu/Hyanmoo series remain the only South Korean cruise missiles to have seen active service. Translated into English, Hyanmoo/Hyanmu means, literally, ‘Guardian of the Northern Sky'.

T-50B Air Force aerobatic jet crashes in South Korea

An Air Force aerobatic jet crashed in northeastern South Korea on Thursday, killing its lone pilot and sparking a brush fire, police said.

   The T-50B plane went down at 10:28 a.m. on a mountain in Hoengseong, about 90 kilometers east of Seoul, and its pilot, identified only as Capt. Kim, 32, is believed dead, officials said.A parachute was found hanging from a tree about 70 meters from the scene, but the pilot was believed to have failed to eject, officials said.

   It was one of two planes that took off from an air base in nearby Wonju at 10:23 a.m. Witnesses in the area said the two jets flew in parallel before one of them went down in flames.

Korea Sells 20 KT-1 Trainer Jets to Peru

Twenty Korean-made turboprop KT-1 trainers have been exported to Peru. It is the third overseas shipment of the KT-1 after Indonesia and Turkey and the first time Korea has sold defense equipment to Latin America.

The governments of the two countries signed the contract worth US$200 million in Lima on Wednesday. The aircraft are 10 KT-1 basic trainers and 10 KA-1s, a light attack aircraft version. Four will be manufactured and supplied by Korea Aerospace Industries and the rest assembled in Peru.

Korea has sought to export the KT-1 to Peru since 2007. It competed with Brazil's Emb-314, Switzerland's PC-9, and the U.S.' T-6A.

Seoul refuses to join US missile defense in Asia

South Korea won`t develop its own anti-missile defense system. Seoul is not interested in joining Washington’s plans to build up missile defenses in the Asia-Pacific region. The announcement comes after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta`s recent visit to the Korean Peninsula.

Officially, Seoul opposes technical aspects of the global anti-missile defense system in Asia, saying that South Korea is interested in protecting itself from missiles launched at a range of just 500-1000 km (obviously, from Pyongyang), while the US system is designed to work at a much greater range. But the real reason behind the argument is perhaps that Seoul does not want to get on its northern neighbor’s nerves, to say nothing about China as Beijing is a major opponent of the U.S. anti-missile plans in Asia.

Washington’s allies in the West seem to be fed up with the issue of US anti-missile defense plans. It looks as if they would like to distance themselves from this US project which is hardly possible amid intense pressure from the U.S. Now Washington has turned its sights to Asia.

International Chess Grandmaster Vladislav Tkachev offers an interesting chess parallel to this development of the U.S. policy of deterrence. "A new geopolitical idea came into existence at the US embassy in Moscow in 1946. It was about preventing Communist ideas from spreading worldwide. There used to be a bright image in politics at the time: domino chips quickly falling down one after another symbolizing the countries of Eastern Europe and Asia that supported the Marxism - Leninism theory and wanted to oust colonial administrations from their territories."

Boeing Delivers Final Peace Eye AEW&C Aircraft to Republic of Korea Air Force

Airborne surveillance and battle management capability delivered 5 weeks ahead of schedule in partnership with local industry.

 
ROKAF BASE GIMHAE, South Korea, Oct. 31, 2012 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] on Oct. 24 delivered the fourth and final 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), demonstrating the continuing success of the company's partnerships with local industry.
"We delivered five weeks ahead of schedule thanks to the hard work, focus and close collaboration among the ROKAF, Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Boeing and our in-country suppliers," said Rick Heerdt, Boeing vice president of Airborne Surveillance, Command and Control.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) modified and supported testing of three of the four 737-based Peace Eye aircraft at its facility in Sacheon.
"Throughout the program, KAI demonstrated its outstanding technical capability and modification experience in delivering this powerful airborne surveillance and battle management capability that enhances the security of the Korean peninsula," Heerdt said.
Other Korean companies that made key contributions to the AEW&C program include:

S. Korea moves to upgrade Patriot defense system

The South Korean military's Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) system has a success rate of less than 40 percent in intercepting ballistic missiles, government sources said Sunday.

   Due to the noticeable inefficiency in deterring North Korean missiles, the PAC-2 system can only be useful in intercepting airplanes, prompting the South's military to rush to introduce the more advanced PAC-3 system, said the sources.

   PAC-2 has been deployed to counter increasing threats from the North's low-flying, short- and medium-range missiles, as part of Seoul's plan to build an independent theater missile defense shield, dubbed the Korean Air and Missile defense (KAMD) network system.

   "The Korea Institute for Defense Analyses and the Missile Defense Agency of the U.S. have just concluded a joint study on the KAMD and found that the PAC-2 system has an interception success rate of below 40 percent," said a ranking government official.

   "A variety of simulations have concluded that in order to raise the interception rate to above 70 percent, the (South Korean) military has to move to the PAC-3 system."

South Korea orders its 100th Sigma 40 navigation system from Sagem

South Korea has ordered its 100th shipborne Sigma 40 inertial navigation system from Sagem (Safran group), confirming its confidence in the system’s laser gyro technology.

The Sigma 40 is a high-performance shipborne inertial navigation system. It is available in several different versions to cover operational needs for all types of warships, from corvettes to nuclear submarines.

These units are widely used by the South Korean navy as original equipment or higher-performance retrofits on both surface vessels and submarines, including PKX patrol boats, FFX frigates and U-209 and KSS-1 submarines.

This latest Sigma order consolidates Sagem’s leadership with the world’s most powerful navies. Part of the ship’s combat system, the Sigma 40’s high-precision measurements contribute to weapon accuracy and performance.

Lockheed Martin To Provide Supply Chain Support to the Republic of Korea's Military Services

Johnstown, PA  - Lockheed Martin has been awarded three new contracts to support the supply chain needs of the Republic of Korea Air Force and Navy.

Under the terms of the basic ordering agreements, Lockheed Martin will provide spare material and repair of military hardware for the Republic of Korea's fleet of F-16s and P-3 military aircraft.

The company has also provided these same services for the C-130 for nearly 13 years. These annual contracts have a $2 million ceiling and are funded incrementally.

"The establishment of these contracts with the Republic of Korea highlights the confidence our customers have in our capability to maintain critical spare parts and repair of military hardware for their weapon systems," said Janet Gohman, director, Global Supply Chain Services for Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems and Sensors business.

"We focus on delivering an effective and integrated supply chain to increase affordability and reduce turn-around-time for our customers."

US lets S. Korea raise missile range to cover North

Seoul - South Korea Sunday announced a deal with the United States to almost triple the range of its missiles to cover the whole of North Korea -- a move likely to infuriate Pyongyang.

The agreement will allow the South to deploy missiles with a range of 800 kilometres (500 miles), up from the current limit of 300 kilometres, National Security Adviser Chun Yung-Woo told reporters.

"The biggest purpose of the revision is curbing military provocations by North Korea," Chun said.

The extension will not only bring the whole of North Korea within reach of Seoul's rockets, but also parts of China and Japan.

The US stations 28,500 troops in South Korea and guarantees a nuclear "umbrella" in case of any atomic attack. In return, Seoul accepts limits on its missile capabilities.

An agreement signed with the US in 2001 -- the year South Korea joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) -- restricted Seoul to rockets with a range of 300 kilometres and a payload of 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds).

Given the ambitions of nuclear-armed North Korea's own missile programme, the South has long argued for the limits to be extended. Negotiations took on a new urgency after the North's failed rocket launch in April.

U.S. keeps mum on missile talks with S. Korea

The United States on Wednesday remained guarded publicly about talks on South Korea's ballistic missile capability, apparently reflecting the sensitivity of an issue associated with nonproliferation efforts.

A series of press reports in Seoul said the allies have reached a deal to allow South Korea to develop ballistic missiles with the range of up to 800 kilometers, enough to cover all of North Korea.

South Korea is currently prohibited from developing ballistic missiles with the range of more than 300 km.

There will be no change in the 500-kg limit on payload weight under envisioned new guidelines, reports said.

Multiple sources said the two sides plan to make an announcement on their agreement very soon.

The State Department neither confirmed nor denied that.

"As you know, we continue to talk about bilateral security arrangements. We've made that clear here," department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said at a press briefing. "I don't have anything new to report to you today on the missile side."

The White House also refused to respond to Yonhap News Agency's separate inquiry.

The missile range issue is highly sensitive for South Korea and the U.S. alike.

In its final months in office, South Korea's conservative Lee Myung-bak administration hopes to present a ticket for longer-range missiles as a diplomatic achievement.

It could help solidify the conservative base ahead of the presidential polls in December.

Lee is banned from seeking re-election himself under the Constitution, but he hopes his ruling party will retain power.

Korea - KAI developing “suicide combat UAV”

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is developing a new long-range guided weapon that can cruise to a location and subsequently, loiter and attack when a target is identified.

The system is called "Devil Killer" and has a maximum speed that ranges between 350-400km/h (189-216kt), says KAI. It navigates using GPS and a data link, and the company refers to it as a "suicide combat unmanned air vehicle".
"After [the Devil Killer] moves to the target point along the pre-programmed route, which is designated with navigation points, the operator can identify targets through the forward-looking camera image and then commence either a manual or automatic strike," says KAI.
The system is powered by an electric motor and weighs 25kg (55lb), with a length of 1.5m (4.92ft). Details of its explosive payload, endurance and range are confidential.