Indra to supply upgraded Pegaso defence system for Korean KSS-lll SSK

Indra is to supply South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering with an upgraded version of its Pegaso electronic support measures (ESM) system for fitting to the Republic of Korea Navy's (RoKN's) first KSS-III-class diesel-electric submarine (SSK) of the second batch.

Announcing the contract on 25 November, the Spanish group said its system “offered the probability of intercepting enemy signals in its working band close to 100%”.

Indra has already supplied the system for the first batch of the 3,750 tonne (dived), 83.5 m Dosan An Chang-ho-class submarines, and is hoping to secure the orders for the remainder in the scheduled nine-ship programme.

An Indra spokesman told Janes the latest version has been improved in that it combines the systems for monitoring electromagnetic signals for signals intelligence (SIGINT) with radar and communications electronic support measures (RESM/CESM).

“The solution integrates both sensors in a single antenna to increase its efficacy, saving on space and reducing the radar section of the submarine, making it more difficult to be detected by the enemy,” Indra said.

“The Pegaso system is capable of automatically and instantaneously carrying out the detection of emissions, including precise information on its angle of arrival, the analysis, classification, identification, and recording of pulse or continuous wave signals in the radar and communications frequency bands.

“It also allows for recording signals, data, and events that occur on a mission for later offline analysis, using specific software tools for detailed analysis of the mission.”

The incorporation of True Wideband Digital Reception enables it to “cover instantly a wide spectrum of the radar and communications band, increasing the probability of intercepting any type of boat or aircraft that can be found in the submarine's surroundings up to almost 100%”.