S. Korea Endorses Key Projects to Upgrade F-15K Fighters, Buy Refueling Tankers | Be Korea-savvy

S. Korea Endorses Key Projects to Upgrade F-15K Fighters, Buy Refueling Tankers


This pool photo, taken on Sept. 29, 2022, shows South Korea's F-15K fighters staging a performance in a media event ahead of the Armed Forces Day at the Gyeryongdae military headquarters, 160 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)

This pool photo, taken on Sept. 29, 2022, shows South Korea’s F-15K fighters staging a performance in a media event ahead of the Armed Forces Day at the Gyeryongdae military headquarters, 160 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Dec. 28 (Korea Bizwire)South Korea approved major projects Wednesday to upgrade combat capabilities of its F-15K fighters and import aerial refueling tankers, the state arms procurement agency said, in a move to counter evolving North Korean threats.

The Defense Project Promotion Committee passed a 3.46 trillion won (US$2.73 billion) project to strengthen the mission capabilities and survivability of the F-15K jets from 2024-2034, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

The project includes replacing the current F-15Ks’ old radar system with the advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and installing integrated electronic warfare equipment and an up-to-date mission computer.

The committee also gave the green light to a 1.2 trillion won project to purchase foreign-made refueling tankers from 2024-2029.

DAPA did not disclose how many tankers will be imported, but it is expected to buy two tankers. Potential candidates for the project could include Boeing’s KC-46 and Airbus A-330 MRTT, observers said.

The commission, in addition, approved a 673 billion won project to improve combat capabilities of the Navy’s 4,400-ton KDX-II destroyers from 2024-2033.

It is designed to replace old components with new, advanced ones, such as a towed array sonar system.

(Yonhap)

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