Navy Conducts Live-Fire SM-2 Interceptor Drills During RIMPAC | Be Korea-savvy

Navy Conducts Live-Fire SM-2 Interceptor Drills During RIMPAC


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SEOUL, July 10 (Korea Bizwire) – The Navy held air defense drills with an SM-2 interceptor during a U.S.-led multinational exercise in waters near Hawaii this week, officials said Wednesday, amid efforts to bolster response capabilities against North Korean missile threats.

The ROKS Yulgok Yi I destroyer successfully intercepted an unmanned aerial target Tuesday (local time) with the SM-2 surface-to-air missile during the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, according to the Navy officials.

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The SM-2 is capable of defending against anti-ship missiles and aircraft out to 90 nautical miles, according to the U.S. defense company Raytheon, the missile’s manufacturer.

“Through this exercise, (we) inspected our Navy’s anti-air and anti-missile engagement capabilities and enhanced our missile operational capabilities,” Capt. Kim Bong-jin, ROKS Yulgok Yi I’s commanding officer, said in a release.

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South Korea has dispatched some 840 troops, three warships and a submarine to take part in this year’s RIMPAC, which involves 29 countries, and is scheduled to run through Aug. 1.

As part of RIMPAC, the ROKS Lee Beom-seok submarine will stage a live-fire exercise against a retired U.S. amphibious assault ship on July 18, according to the Navy.

North Korea has ratcheted up tensions on the Korean Peninsula with a spate of weapons tests this year, including what it called a “super-large warhead” power test for a strategic cruise missile in April.

Image credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com

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