Military

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  LIG Nex1 opens assembly and inspection center for upper-tier missile defense system SEOUL -- LIG Nex1, a defense contractor involved in the development of radar and missile guidance systems, has opened a dedicated assembly and inspection center for an upper-tier missile defense system which is slated to be ready in 2024. South Korea has strived to develop an independent aerial and missile defense system, based mainly on Russian technology. The opening ceremony took place on June 23 in Gimcheon, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) southeast of Seoul. "We will do 2021-06-25
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  Gallium nitride power amplification device localized in S. Korea SEOUL -- South Korea has localized technology to mass-produce a gallium nitride power amplification device that stabilizes the output of high-intensity energy emitted in a short time. It is a strategic material that has been used for mobile communication equipment and high-tech weapons such as radars. Due to high power density and voltage breakdown limits, gallium nitride (GaN) is emerging as a promising candidate for 5G cellular base station applications. GaN transistors make ide 2021-06-22
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  Anti-drone system being tested at military facilities to neutralize ultra-small drones SEOUL -- South Korea's military will test-run a radar-linked solution that can detect ultra-small drones and fire interference radio waves to neutralize them before they reach key military facilities. It is capable of detecting an ultra-small drone about eight kilometers away. The anti-drone solution developed by K-NETZ, an IT company, will be piloted for six months from June 22, said the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), a state arms procurement agency contro 2021-06-22
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  S. Korea's military to test two new surveillance systems in border areas SEOUL -- Two new surveillance devices using robots, high-resolution cameras or sound sensors will be tested in the second half of 2021 to lessen the heavy work of South Korean border guards and minimize blind spots through non-stop surveillance missions. One is a sentry robot that moves at least five meters per second along the rail. For test operation, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), a state arms procurement agency, will purchase two surveillance systems fr 2021-06-15
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  Hanwha Systems joins development of autonomous underwater vehicles for clustered search SEOUL -- A consortium involving Hanwha Systems and state research bodies will develop an autonomous underwater vehicle for clustered search and its operating system in a state project to establish a marine unmanned system that enables rapid and accurate underwater exploration. The project hosted by the Korea Institute of Marine Science & Technology Promotion (KIMST) will cost some 25 billion won ($22 million) by 2025. It is designed to protect the golden time of saving lives b 2021-06-14
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  S. Korea localizes high-performance armor plate for armored vehicles SEOUL -- South Korea's defense agency has succeeded in the localization of materials for high-performance armor plates that are used for the protection of armored vehicles. The development of new armor plates will help reduce domestic companies' dependency on foreign materials in the manufacturing of defense products. Military vehicles including light-armored vehicles and armored fighting vehicles are normally clad in plates of armor that protect machinery and personnel from 2021-06-08
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  Hanwha Defense in discussion with suppliers for Britain's self-propelled artillery program SEOUL -- In an effort to bolster its winning strategy for Britain's arms procurement program, Hanwha Defense is ready to arrange for a "Made in the UK" variant of its K9 self-propelled howitzer through the transfer of technology and know-how. The South Korean company is to release a request for proposal in 2022 with K9's advanced version that can be used to strengthen combined operational capabilities with NATO allies. K-9 is one of South Korea's best-selling g 2021-06-03
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  S. Korea's long-term goal to develop platforms for rocket launch using aircraft or at sea SEOUL -- Underlining its strong push to catch up with Japan and other countries in space technology, South Korea unveiled a long-term goal to develop platforms for the launch of space rockets using aircraft or at sea, in less than two weeks after the United States lifted decades-old restrictions on missile development The Defense Ministry said in a report to a defense committee in parliament that it would develop air- or sea-based platforms to launch spacecraft. "The complete l 2021-05-31
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  Hanwha Corporation wins military order to develop oscillator technology for laser weapons SEOUL -- South Korea's Hanwha group has been selected for a military project to develop an oscillator for laser weapons that would be used for short-range air defense against small unmanned aircraft like drones. A laser emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. An oscillator generates a coherent signal through resonant oscillation without an input signal. Hanwha Corporation said it has received an orde 2021-05-31
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  [FOCUS] Experts anticipate 'win-win synergy' in Seoul-London romance in maritime defense industry SEOUL -- South Korea has yearned for strong military firepower ever since its entire territory was almost eradicated by North Korean troops with far superior weapons during their three-year conflict. After the ceasefire in 1953, Seoul has frantically boosted defense capabilities through ties with key allies such as the United States to have the world's sixth powerful armed forces. Under a mutual defense pact, South Korea has been heavily dependent on American weapons. However, 2021-05-27
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  LIG Nex1 secures deal to produce new mid-range radar system for maritime surveillance SEOUL -- LIG Nex1, a defense contractor involved in the development of radar and missile guidance systems, has secured a deal from South Korea's military procurement agency to produce a new mid-range radar system for maritime surveillance that would be installed in coastal and island areas to detect ships and aircraft. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said it has signed a contract worth $164 billion ($145 million) to deploy the Maritime Surveillance Rada 2021-05-17
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  New and 5th 2,800-ton frigate launched at Daewoo shipyard SEOUL --A new 2,800-ton frigate armed with anti-submarine and tactical guided missiles was launched in a ceremony at the shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, a major shipbuilder in South Korea. The frigate named "Daejeon" features a hybrid propulsion system to reduce underwater radiated noise and a towed array passive sonar system. Daejeon is the fifth FFX Batch II frigate which is 122 meters long, 14 meters wide and 34 meters high. The first ship of t 2021-05-03
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  S. Korea develops technology to detect aircraft using stealth technology SEOUL -- Through four years of independent research, South Korea's state defense research body claimed to have developed technology capable of tracking stealth fighters. The technology will be used for the establishment of a wide-area surveillance radar system to track fighter jets from China, Russia and other countries which have staged air operations in Northeast Asia. In a four-year project that began in 2016, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has secured technology 2021-04-27
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  S. Korea pushes ahead with development of homemade attack choppers for marine force SEOUL -- A state arms procurement agency won final approval to push for the development of new attack choppers that would support landing operations by South Korea's marine force, based on a homemade transport utility model which has been in service, instead of field-proven foreign models. A conference chaired by Defense Minister Suh Wook on April 26 endorsed a military project to develop the attack version of Marineon, the amphibious variant of South Korea's home-made trans 2021-04-27
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  Exploratory development of unmanned surveillance vehicle for cavalry completed in S. Korea SEOUL -- An unmanned surveillance vehicle capable of carrying out reconnaissance missions or tracking a single target precisely on mountain roads will be deployed for South Korea's front-line cavalry units in 2027. A prototype operated by remote control or self-driving technology has passed a test for operational performance and suitability for military use. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), a state arms procurement agency controlled by the defense m 2021-04-22
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  Hanwha Defense partners with Oshkosh for digital design phase of U.S. next-generation combat vehicle program SEOUL -- Hanwha Defense, a key defense contractor in South Korea, has signed an exclusive teaming agreement with Oshkosh Defense, a leading US defense company, for the digital design phase of the US Army's next-generation combat vehicle program intended to procure a variety of armored vehicles and replace existing platforms that are nearing the end of their service life. The optionally manned fighting vehicle (OMFV) program is a key element of the US Army's modernization e 2021-04-20
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  [FOCUS] President Moon hails rollout of home-made fighter jet as 'historic milestone' SEOUL -- After nearly two decades of strenuous work to shake off doubtful or sometimes depreciatory eyes from top-class foreign aircraft makers, South Korea finally rolled out the first prototype of its home-made fighter jet which was hailed by President Moon Jae-in as a "historic milestone" in independent aircraft development. The jet fighter was christened "KF-21 Boramae (Young Hawk)" in a ceremony chaired by Moon at the base of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) 2021-04-09
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  Terrestrial navigation system ready for use in S. Korea to cope with jamming and electric warfare SEOUL -- To cope with unexpected interference such as North Korea's electric warfare, South Korea will launch an uninterrupted positioning navigation service based on radio waves from ground transmitters instead of satellites, starting with a pilot project in June for coastguard vessels and state patrol boats operating in volatile border areas off the west coast. South Korea began developing a terrestrial navigation system that can provide Positioning navigation timing (PNT) inf 2021-04-01
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  Hanwha Defense upgrades multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicle for overseas sales SEOUL -- Hanwha Defense, a defense contractor affiliated with South Korea's Hanwha conglomerate, has upgraded its multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicle for overseas sales. The artificial intelligence-based model featuring an autonomous return function was selected for a military test operation in the second half of this year to check its performance, operational convenience and tactical operability. The prototype to be unveiled in July is a six-wheeled platform that strengthened 2021-03-31