South Korea completes long-range radar development

A graphic issued by DAPA shows the operational concept of the new long-range radar. (DAPA)

South Korea has completed the development of a new long-range, air-defence radar, the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on 18 November.

DAPA said the new radar has been approved as “combat ready” for use by the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF). It added that the radar's role will be to provide non-stop, persistent surveillance across the country's air defence identification zone.

“[The radar] is a key system for our air force … ensuring immediate air defence operations by transmitting information captured by radar to the air force's air defence control centre in real time,” said DAPA.

It said the radar has been undergoing testing and evaluation for about 18 months after signing a system development contract with local firm LIG Nex1 in February 2021. A detailed design of the radar was completed by May 2022.

DAPA said it plans to award a contract to start production of the radar from 2026 to enable a replacement of some of the RoKAF's existing radar systems. DAPA did not say how many radars it plans to procure.

During its evaluation phase the long-range radar was tested in an operational environment and passed a series of performance tests in extreme weather conditions as well as core component life tests and electromagnetic tests, DAPA said. The radar also underwent US identification of friend-or-foe (IFF) certification tests.

DAPA also claimed that with the completion of the development programme South Korea has become one of just a few countries in the world that can “independently manufacture and produce long-range radars”.