South Korea selects companies to develop gliding graphite bomb

South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has completed the selection of companies that will be tasked with developing a non-lethal, gliding, graphite-based ‘blackout bomb’ for use by the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF).

Speaking to Janes about on 18 August a South Korean official said on condition of anonymity that Poongsan Corporation will build the weapon’s case, LIG Nex1 will be in charge providing the guidance kit and integrating the system, and Hanwha will develop the fuze.

A computer-generated image showing the gliding ‘blackout’ bomb South Korea is aiming to develop for use by the RoKAF. (Poongsan Corporation )

The budget for developing the stand-off weapon, which is based on computer-generated imagery provided by Poongsan will feature what appear to be two folding wings on its upper surface and at least five sweptback rectangular fins on its tail section, “is in the range of tens of billions of KRW”, with contracts for prototype development set to be signed in September, according to the official.

Development of the weapon is expected to be completed by November 2024.