South Korea: Asia’s Other Rising Naval Power

With the world’s attention focused on a potential confrontation between China and Japan in the East China Sea, a third player has built what may be the most powerful ship-for-ship fleet in Northeast Asia.  Over the past fifteen years, the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) has expanded dramatically, acquiring a substantial fleet of modern, powerful warships. While the ROKN continues to prepare for the contingency of conflict with North Korea, it has become a force capable of significant foreign deployment.  If Seoul maintains its commitment to the Navy, the ROKN could become one of the world’s premier middle power navies.
Since 1953, North Korea has posed the central strategic problem for the ROKN.  The sinking of the Cheonan and the DPRK’s bombardment of offshore islands in 2010 served as harsh reminders of the maritime aspects of the North Korea dilemma.  New designs (especially frigates) suggest a renewed emphasis on anti-submarine warfare. However, many of the capabilities of South Korea’s new warships seem geared towards global contingencies, rather than being designed to meet specific North Korean threats.
The Aegis equipped Sejong the Great (KD-III) class destroyers, for example, compare favorably with American, Japanese, and Chinese designs, carrying more missiles in VLS cells than their foreign counterparts.  Although quite capable of engaging North Korea in a strike, air defense, or missile defense capacity, the three ships of the class represent a much more substantial commitment to surface warfare than the threat of the DPRK demands.

Elbit Systems to Supply Thousands of Personal Locator Beacon Units to Hyundai J-Comm for the Korean Navy

Elbit Systems SAR and Data Links – Elisra Ltd. (formerly Tadiran Spectralink), will supply Hyundai J-Comm of South Korea, with thousands of AN/PRC-648 SAR Personal Locator Beacon (SPLB) units for the Korean Navy. Hyundai will be the prime contractor for the Korean Government’s Cospas-Sarsat Personal Locator Beacon programs and will assemble, test and deliver the AN/PRC-648 to the customer.

Under the contract, which is not in an amount that is material to Elbit Systems, Elbit Systems SAR and Data Links will be Hyundai’s sole subcontractor for the production and delivery of the SPLB module kit, and Hyundai was also granted a license to assemble, test, maintain and repair the AN/PRC-648 in the Republic of Korea.

The AN/PRC-648 is an advanced over-the-horizon Cospas-Sarsat Personal Locator Beacon intended for non-combat SAR missions, when training or flying over friendly territory. A triple beacon enables transmitting distress signals over all the internationally recognized emergency frequencies, including the Cospas-Sarsat protocol and complying with the requirements of C/S T.001 and T.007, as well as STANAG 7007.

South Korean Warships Visit Russia

Two South Korean destroyers on Sunday arrived to Russia’s Far Eastern port of Vladivostok for a two-day friendly visit, spokesman for Russia’s Pacific Fleet Capt. 1st Rank Roman Martov said.

“The welcoming ceremony was held at the Golden Horn Bay,” Martov said. “Pacific Fleet’s missile cruiser Varyag acts as a host ship.”
The S. Korean naval delegation will meet with Pacific Fleet’s command staff and Vladivostok authorities, and lay flowers at the memorial dedicated to Pacific Fleet’s sailors.
The S. Korean sailors will also be given a guided tour of the city and hold sports competitions with their Russian counterparts.
It is the first out of three visits of foreign naval ships to Vladivostok in September 2012.

South Korean Navy takes delivery of third KDX-III class Aegis destroyer

ROK (Republic of Korea) Navy took delivery of its third Aegis-equipped destroyer from the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on August 30 2012. South Korea launched the KDX-III program in 2004 to bolster its defense against North Korea. The first ship of the Sejong the Great ship class, was commissioned in December 2008 and the second ship of the class (Yulgok Yi I) was commissioned in August 2010.

The KDX-III destroyers measure 544 feet (165.9 meters) long, with a standard displacement of 8,500 tons, making them the largest ships using Aegis.

The Aegis Combat System is an advanced naval surface defense system and is the foundation for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense. Aegis can simultaneously attack land targets, submarines, and surface ships while

Korea to build a naval base in the northernmost island from the DPRK only 10 km

South Korean Navy in November last year, apply to the Incheon city government, Yong Tianjin County paekyong, town village Xingang area of ??23,000 square meters of sea on the establishment of naval vessels dock and supporting shore-based facilities to respond to North Korea’s maritime “provocative”. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.
It is reported that South Korean navy in the 2010 near paekyong, the day the ship sinking and taeyonpyong shelling began to strengthen the military power of the Yellow Sea, five island, and promote the work of fishermen to protect. South Korea has been that these two incidents, Korea are the “mastermind”.
Korea Ministry of National Defense under the Defense facilities Part responsible for the construction of the naval base. Defense Facilities Division, sources said, will be the end of this month to begin sea construction work is expected to complete construction by the end of 2014. Cost of 42.5 billion won (about 233 million yuan).
According to reports, the naval base of the new construction of terminal facilities and support facilities, is expected to accommodate a squadron of troops (about 100). Land will be built for the life of officers and men living museum, a small pier, sports landscaping facilities and training fields.
reported that paekyong no berthing ships dock, so the construction of the South Korean Navy’s front line response to North Korean “provocation” without delay.
paekyong located in Incheon City, the northernmost islands of South Korea’s distance from North Korea’s recent island from the Korean Yellow Sea Road, just 10 km, belonging to the two Koreas disputed islands, North Korea and its sovereignty.

India to buy 8 warships from South Korea for Rs 6,000 crore

In tune with a growing 'strategic partnership' with South Korea, India is now getting all set to ink a major defence contract with the north-east Asian country for acquisition of eight advanced minesweeping and hunting warships.

Under the programme, which will be worth well over Rs 6,000 crore, India will get two of the mine counter-measures vessels (MCMVs) directly from South Korean firm Kangnam Corporation, while the other six will be manufactured by Goa Shipyard after transfer of technology. "The contract is now being finalized after the conclusion of the commercial negotiations," said a source.

India's need for advanced MCMVs that combine the role of traditional minesweepers and active mine-hunters to detect and destroy underwater mines is critical. Despite intelligence inputs holding that Indian harbours face the clear and present danger of underwater mines being planted by both state as well as non-state actors, the Navy's MCMV project has been hanging fire for several years now.

"Underwater mines are cheap weapons that can be used for high-impact incidents. It's relatively easy for someone to lay mines at the harbour approach or departure routes. There is need to step-up the protection of our harbours and offshore installations," said an official.

Made of composite material and high-grade steel to ensure 'minimal magnetivity', the new MCMVs will have high-definition sonars and acoustic and magnetic sweeps to first detect all kinds of marooned and drifting mines and then use remote-controlled systems like small underwater vehicles to then detonate them at safe distances.

Secret weapons of South Korea - South Korean special forces

South Korea special forces training

Photos of South Korean Aegis-equipped destroyer