KADEX 2024: LIG Nex1 delivers weapon locating radars to RoK Armed Forces

LIG Nex1 has delivered its TPQ-74K weapon locating radar (pictured) to the RoK Armed Forces. (Janes/Oishee Majumdar)

New details have emerged about LIG Nex1's contract to supply weapon locating radars (WLRs) to the Republic of Korea (RoK) Armed Forces.

Speaking to Janes at the Korea Army International Defense Industry Exhibition (KADEX) 2024 held at Gyeryongdae from 2 to 6 October, a LIG Nex1 official confirmed that the company has delivered “around 20” of its WLRs to the RoK Armed Forces.

The official said LIG Nex1's TPQ-74K WLR, also known as ‘Sky Mirror', is a C-band (4–8 GHz) active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.

TPQ-74K is a mobile radar that can simultaneously detect and track different types of munitions including mortars, field guns, and rockets, the official added.

The official said that the primary objective of the deployed TPQ-74Ks will be to detect hostile artillery, reverse-trace its trajectory, and transmit its location information to friendly artillery units.

“The range of TPQ-74K differs depending upon targets. It has a range of around 100 km for detecting and tracking missiles,” the official added.

According to LIG Nex1, TPQ-74K comprises gallium nitride (GaN)-based transmit/receive modules (TRMs).

In December 2022 the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that it has awarded a contract worth KRW30 billion (USD22.3 million) to LIG Nex1 to acquire WLRs from the company. It is unclear if the latest deliveries of TPQ-74K are part of this contract.

DAPA said new WLRs procured from LIG Nex1 will replace the older AN/TPQ-36, and AN/TPQ-37 WLRs used by the RoK Army (RoKA) and the RoK Marine Corps.

For more information, please see Korea, South – Army .