South Korea’s Next-Generation Fighter Jet Is Rapidly Taking Shape

Warzone/The Drive: Photos Show South Korea’s Next-Generation Fighter Jet Rapidly Taking Shape

Production of the first of South Korea’s KF-X advanced fighter prototypes has advanced to an impressive degree.

Recently released photos and video show the initial prototype of the KF-X next-generation indigenous fighter — which is being built by Korea Aerospace Industries, or KAI, in Sacheon — starting to take shape. KAI is also receiving assistance from Lockheed Martin on the project, which has an estimated total value of $7.4 billion, and is aiming to roll out the completed prototype by April of next year.

So far, the bulk of the fuselage and the wings have been completed and major subassemblies are now in the process of being mated together on the production line. The fuselage seems to have been completed in three major components: forward fuselage including the cockpit, center fuselage ‘barrel’ with integral wings, and a tail unit, to which the flying surfaces have not yet been added.

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WNU Editor: It looks impressive. They still have a long way to go before having a functional fighter.

More News On South Korea’s Next-Generation Fighter Jet

Korea’s KF-X stealth fighter takes a big leap -- Asia Times
Behold South Korea’s Very Expensive Stealth Fighter -- Forbes
South Korea unveils the first prototype of new KF-X fighter jet -- Defence Blog
South Korea embarks on final assembly of KF-X prototype -- Flight Global

South Korea Developing A New Class Of Attack Submarines That Will Carry Non-Nuclear Ballistic Missiles

A South Korean navy 'Son Won II' submarine. U.S. Navy

David Axe, Forbes: South Korea Is Packing Submarines With Rockets For Taking Out North Korea’s Nukes

South Korea’s got some weird submarines. And they’re about to get weirder ... and more powerful.

As part of a sweeping, five-year defense plan costing $250 billion, Seoul plans to develop a new class of attack submarine carrying non-nuclear ballistic missiles.

Conventional ballistic missiles are a rarity on submarines. For land-attack missions, most navies arm their undersea boats with cruise missiles, as cruise missiles are more accurate—albeit slower and less powerful—than ballistic missiles are.

But Seoul has some, ahem, unique defense needs owing to the presence on its border of a heavily-armed and belligerent nuclear state. South Korea’s submarines and their hard-hitting ballistic missiles give the country some ability to prevent a North Korean attack.

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WNU Editor: These missiles will be able to strike North Korean targets within minutes.

South Korea Is Building Its First Aircraft Carrier

An illustration of South Korea's planned aircraft carrier from the Ministry of Defense.

CNN: As tensions rise in Asia Pacific, South Korea is building its first aircraft carrier ... complete with US-made fighter jets

Seoul, South Korea (CNN)South Korea plans to start building its first aircraft carrier next year, and acquire fighter jets to operate on it, the country's Defense Ministry has announced.

Last year, South Korea hinted at its interest in an aircraft carrier, saying it would build a "multi-purpose large transport vessel." But in its national plan for 2021-2025, published this week, the government for the first time explicitly committed to building the billion-dollar equipment.

"The 30,000-ton level aircraft carrier can transport military forces, equipment and materials and can operate fighter jets that are capable of vertical take-off and landing," said the Defense Ministry release.

"It will enable the military to more effectively suppress threats and dispatch forces and materials to a disputed region in the sea by playing a role of a controlling vessel for the navy unit."

It is expected South Korea will purchase US-made F-35B fighter jets, which have short takeoff and vertical landing capability, compatible with a small aircraft carrier. F-35Bs are the only short take-off and vertical landing fighter jets in production in the world.

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WNU Editor: These ships are not cheap, and purchasing/maintaining the jet aircraft that will be on these ships will cost a fortune. South Korea is not a maritime power, and its boundaries can be easily defended from airbases on land. So you have to wonder why they want to spend money on this project.

South Korea Is Getting An 'Aircraft Carrier'

Image: Reuters

David Axe, National Interest: South Korea Is Getting An 'Aircraft Carrier' To Compete With China And Japan

Looking beyond the North Korean threat, South Korea clearly has ambitions to develop a far-sailing “blue-water” navy.

Key point: Seoul for years has mulled a purchase of F-35Bs to complement the country’s land-based F-35As.

South Korea is getting an aircraft carrier. The vessel could help Seoul’s navy to compete with its main rivals, the Chinese and Japanese fleets.

The South Korean joint chiefs of staff decided on July 12, 2019 to acquire an assault ship capable of operating fixed-wing aircraft, Defense News reported. The vessel presumably would embark vertical-landing F-35B stealth fighters.

Seoul for years has mulled a purchase of F-35Bs to complement the country’s land-based F-35As.

“The plan of building the LPH-II ship has been included in a long-term force buildup plan,” a spokesman for the joint chiefs told Defense News, using an acronym for “landing platform helicopter.”

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WNU Editor: South Korea is now investing resources to have a serious regional navy. This "mini-aircraft carrier" is part of that plan.

South Korea Explores High Performance Naval Air

An F-35B Lightning II jet touches down on the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp © US Navy

WNU Editor: Analysis is true from Austin Bay at Instapundit ....

SOUTH KOREA EXPLORES HIGH PERFORMANCE NAVAL AIR: Will South Korea purchase stealthy Vertical Take-Off and Landing F-35Bs? The post doesn’t come out and say it, but the betting line is yes. South Korea intends to build at least one 30,000 ton warship that looks a lot like a Japanese DDH (destroyer helicopter carrier). A DDH, depending on configuration, can handle a dozen F-35Bs. A dozen supersonic, stealthy fighter bombers can be a potent, multi-mission force, a point I made in a column written in 2017. It’s common knowledge South Korean naval planners have urged their government to buy F-35Bs, and the post notes that. I’ll add this. The F35B can also be dispersed on land to “hide locations” that are not airfields. The British Harrier had this capability and the British touted it. The post doesn’t mention that tactic, but it is a capability that defense planners world-wide discuss, especially in countries that confront enemies who just might try to launch a surprise attack on key airfields. Here’s a photo from 2011 showing a test model F-35B turning to approach the U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Wasp. This photo from 2019 shows an operational F-35B “thrust vectoring” as it takes off from the USS Essex.

South Korea Shows-Off Their F-35s

SCMP: South Korea’s F-35 fighter jets on display as Moon Jae-in embraces show of strength

* South Korean fighter jets conducted patrol flights offshore, including over islands at the centre of a bitter territorial dispute with Japan
* North Korea has criticised the South’s weapons procurements and its joint military drills with the US military as undisguised preparations for war

South Korea on Tuesday displayed some of its newly purchased US-made F-35 stealth fighter jets for the first time during its Armed Forces Day ceremony, a development that will likely infuriate rival North Korea.

Under its biggest ever weapons purchase, South Korea is to buy 40 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin by 2021. The first few batches of the aircraft arrived in the South this year.

North Korea has criticised the South’s weapons procurements and its joint military drills with the US military as undisguised preparations for war that violate recent inter-Korean agreements aimed at lowering military tensions and force it to develop new short-range missiles.

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Update: South Korea shows its US-made F-35 stealth jets for 1st time (AP)

WNU Editor: I am sure the North Koreans are not amused.

South Korea's Military Spending Has North Korea Worried

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends the testing of a super-large multiple rocket launcher in North Korea, in this undated photo released on September by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Experts say South Korea's military expansion is worrying the North. [KCNA via Reuters]

Reuters: Buying a big stick: South Korea's military spending has North Korea worried

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea and North Korea have continued to pour resources into modernizing their militaries despite a frenzy of diplomacy since 2018, data shows, creating a point of tension that has sharpened as talks have stalled.

Military buildups on both sides of the heavily fortified border between the two nations have come to the forefront with recent short-range missile launches by North Korea, perfecting an arsenal it says is necessary to defend against new South Korean weapons.

On Wednesday North Korean state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un had personally supervised on Tuesday the test firing of a large multiple-rocket launch system, a type of weapon analysts say threatens forces in South Korea.

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Update: South Korea military spending spikes, has North Korea worried (Al Jazeera)

WNU Editor: North Korea may be worried about South Korean military spending, but one can also say that South Korea is worried on what North Korea's military is doing.

South Korea Wants A New Amphibious Ship Designed To Carry F-35Bs

South Korea already operates the landing platform helicopter ship Marado. (Courtesy of the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration)

Warzone/The Drive: South Korea Kicks Off Development Of A New Amphibious Ship Designed To Carry F-35Bs

The planned ship will give the South Koreans a significant boost in capability for operations around and beyond the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea is in the early stages of developing a new, larger amphibious assault ship that could support short-takeoff and vertical-landing combat aircraft and plan to launch the ship toward the latter end of the next decade. For more than a year, the South Koreans have been considering a purchase of up to 20 F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, which would likely form the core of the air wing onboard this future vessel.

South Korea's decision to acquire the ship, presently known only as Landing Platform Helicopter-II, or LPH-II, reportedly came during a meeting that South Korean Army General Park Han Ki, the Chairman of the country's Joint Chiefs of Staff, held on July 12, 2019. LPH-II is a reference to the ship being a successor South Korean Navy's two Dokdo class LPHs.

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Update: South Korea to build ship for short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing aircraft (Defense News)

WNU Editor: The key stats to know about this new ship ....  

.... The new LPH is to be refit to displace 30,000 tons, double the capacity of the previous two LPHs — Dokdo and Marado — with 14,500 tons of displacement. The carrier-type vessel is also bigger than the 27,000 tons associated with Japan’s Izumo-class helicopter destroyers.

In short, this is the first time that a light aircraft carrier-class ship is being proposed under South Korea’s force improvement plans

South Korea Is Gong On A Massive Defense Spending Spree

South Korean soldiers face off with North Korean soldiers at Panmunjom in 2013. (Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/Reuters)

Defense News: Inside South Korea’s military wish list, as it seeks greater control over its forces

SEOUL — When South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited the White House this month, U.S. President Donald Trump used the meeting to tout that the Asian nation plans to buy of a large amount of American weapons systems in the years ahead.

“President Moon [Jae-in] and South Korea have agreed to purchase a tremendous amount of our military equipment, from jet fighters to missiles, to lots of other things,” Trump said at the April 11 meeting, where North Korea’s stalled denuclearization topped the agenda. “And we make the finest equipment in the world by far, and we appreciate the purchase. It’s a very large purchase.”

South Korea’s presidential office and military procurement authorities have since been tight-lipped about what might be in that “very large purchase.” But local defense experts and industry sources tell Defense News that acquisition decisions will focus on airborne systems with a price tag reaching 10 trillion won (U.S. $8.8 billion) over the next five to six years.

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WNU Editor: Bottom line, this is South Korea's wish list ....

.... The Ministry of National Defense said earlier this year that it would increase defense spending by an average of 7.5 percent each year over the next five years. The ministry said it would spend some $240 billion during that period, with about $82.7 billion of that set aside for improving weapons systems.

South Korea Will Be Deploying It's 'Artillery Killer' To Destroy North Korean Bunkers

A Korea Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile co-developed by South Korea's arms development agency and Hanwha Corporation during a test launch in July 2017. (Courtesy of South Korea's Ministry of National Defense)

Defense News: South Korea to deploy ‘artillery killer’ to destroy North Korean bunkers

SEOUL, South Korea — The South Korean Army plans to deploy surface-to-surface missiles in a newly created counter-artillery brigade by October, with the aim of destroying North Korea’s hardened long-range artillery sites near the Demilitarized Zone, should conflict erupt on the Korean Peninsula.

The plan is part of South Korea‘s defense reform for developing an offensive operations scheme, a defense source said. The tactical missiles are developed locally.

“The Ministry of National Defense has approved a plan to create an artillery brigade under a ground forces operations command to be inaugurated in October. The plan is to be reported to President Moon Jae-in next month as part of the ‘Defense Reform 2.0’ policy,” the source said. “The brigade’s mission is fairly focused on destroying North Korea’s long-range guns more rapidly and effectively, should conflict arise”

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WNU Editor: This surface-to-surface missile will be targeting this ....

.... According to the 2016 Defense White Paper, North Korea has some 8,600 towed and self-propelled artillery, as well as 5,500 multiple-launch rockets. Seventy percent of them were deployed near the border.

North Korea has forward-deployed 340 long-range guns that can fire 15,000 rounds per hour at Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area.

More Details Emerge On South Korea's 'Frankenmissile'

Straits Times: South Korean army reveals plan to develop 'Frankenmissile' targeting North Korea

SEOUL (THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - South Korea's military plans to develop a "Frankenmissile" to counter North Korea's escalating missile and nuclear capabilities in a bid to overwhelm the North during the initial phase of the war.

In its report for an annual parliamentary audit by the National Assembly's Defence Committee, the army said they would develop the "Hyunmoo IV" surface-to-surface missile, powerful enough to destroy North Korea's underground military facilities and command centre.

Combined with indigenous tactical surface-to-surface missiles and Hyunmoo-class intermediate-range ballistic missiles, the advanced pre-emptive strike capability would inflict "unbearable cost" on the North by neutralising its nuclear and missile sites, as well as long-range artillery units, the army said.

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Previous Post: A Look At South Korea's 'Frankenmissile' (September 12, 2017)

Update #1: South Korea's New 'Frankenmissile' Would Take Out North Korea's Kim Jong Un and His Nuclear Weapons (Newsweek)
Update #2: South Korea developing 'Frankenmissile' to combat North Korean nuclear threat (International Business Times)

WNU Editor: The South Koreans are going to need a lot more than a few "Frankenmissiles" to stop North Korea.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in Wants Wartime Control Of Its Military Transferred Out Of U.S. Hands

South Korean President Moon and Defense Minister Song review the troops during a commemoration ceremony marking South Korea's Armed Forces Day © Jung Yeon-Je / Reuters

VOA: South Korea Wants Wartime Control of its Military

SEOUL — South Korean President Moon Jae-in says his government has stepped up efforts to take back wartime operational control (OPCON) of its forces from the U.S.-led command structure, at a time when North Korea and the U.S. are both threatening war.

In an address to commemorate the nation’s 69th Armed Forces Day Thursday, President Moon said that by increasing defense capabilities and reducing its reliance on American military might, South Korea would project more power in the region and better deter a North Korean attack.

“When the South has wartime operational control, the North will fear us more, and our armed forces will be trusted more,” Moon said.

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WNU Editor: This is the wrong message to send to North Korea right now .... they will see this as a split between South Korea and the U.S., and that South Korea is running scared. And while I do understand the reasons why South Korea wants to do this .... the timing is horrible.

More News On South Korea's President Wanting Wartime Control Of Its Military Transferred Out Of U.S. Hands

Moon Jae In stresses need for early transfer of wartime operational control from US -- Straits Times
South Korean President Moon Jae-in vows powerful military deterrent, early OPCON transfer -- Arirang News
South Korea Is Speeding Up Arms Buildup to Counter North, Its Leader Says -- New York Times
Moon touts stronger military for South -- Korea JoongAng Daily
Seoul showcases strategic weapons targeting NK -- The Korea Herald
Pyongyang will fear us more’: South Korea wants to transfer wartime army command from US -- RT
South Korea expects more provocative acts by North Korea in mid-October -- Reuters

South Korean Military Conducts An Advanced Cruise Missile Test

ABC News Online: South Korean military releases video footage of advanced stealth missile test amid North threats

South Korea has conducted its first live-fire drill for an advanced air-launched cruise missile that would strengthen its pre-emptive strike capability against North Korea in the event of crisis, according to Seoul's Defence Ministry.

The missile, manufactured by Germany's Taurus Systems, has a maximum range of 500 kilometres and is equipped with stealth characteristics that will allow it to avoid radar detection before hitting North Korean targets.

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More News On South Korean Conducting An Advanced Cruise Missile Test

S.Korea Conducts Live-Fire Drill of Taurus Air-to-Surface Missile -- Chosun Ilbo
South Korea conducts cruise missile drill as North Korea threatens action -- FOX News
South Korea tests new 'stealth' cruise missile -- 9News
WATCH: South Korean Cruise Missile Tested in Show of Force Against North Korea -- Sputnik

A Look At South Korea's 'Frankenmissile'

The Independent: 'Frankenmissile': A look at South Korea's devastating answer to North Korea's nuclear threat

The ballistic missile would have a warhead bigger than any previously built by South Korea and the range to destroy underground military and command complexes anywhere in North Korea

South Korea is thought to be planning to counter the nuclear threat of Kim Jong-un’s regime by developing a ‘frankenmissile’ so powerful it can destroy any of the communist north’s underground military installations and command centres.

Swiftly dubbed ‘frankenmissile’ by the South Korean media, the massive ground-to-ground ballistic missile would carry a warhead weighing 1,800kg (4,000lbs) and have the range to reach anywhere in North Korea.

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More News On South Korea's 'Frankenmissile'

Seoul seeks to develop 'Frankenmissile' targeting entire North Korea, say sources -- The Straits Times
Seoul seeks to develop ‘Frankenmissile’ targeting North Korea: sources -- The Korea Herald
South Korea is building bunker-buster missiles to obliterate North Korean despot Kim Jong-un's cave boltholes -- The Sun
Targeting North Korea is more difficult than you think -- News.com.au

South Korea Shows Live-Fire Drills Following North Korea's Missile Launch Over Japan Yesterday (Video)

Sputnik: WATCH: Japan, South Korea Bare Fangs Over Daring North Korean Missile Test

In the early hours of Tuesday, North Korea conducted their second missile test in four days and one of their most daring yet: a ballistic missile sailed over Japan and landed in the sea on the east side of the archipelago. Japan and South Korea have reacted by flexing their military muscles and tightening ties with the United States.

On Tuesday, the Japanese Air Self Defense Force demonstrated a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air missile system at the US Air Force base in Yokota, 26 miles from Tokyo.

The Patriot is meant to shoot down enemy aircraft and missiles. Japanese reporters watched Self Defense Forces set up the missile battery in a matter of minutes, a clear sign that Japanese authorities were prepared to shoot down any North Korean missiles that threaten them.

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WNU Editor: The focus is on what North Korea is doing .... South Korea and Japan are reminding everyone that they can also respond with a great deal of force.

What It's Like To Serve In South Korea's Mandatory Military Service (Video)

South Korea Shows-Off Their Accurate Bunker-Busting Missiles

Daily Mail: You dummies! South Korea appears to blow up a guard during display of bunker-busting missile’s pinpoint accuracy (but hopefully it was just a mannequin)

* South Korea has been testing a Hyunmoo Missile II during military exercises
* Footage shows bunker-buster thudding into a target with pinpoint accuracy
* But video also shows a figure being blown up at the end of a tunnel under target
* But commenters say it could be a mannaquin placed their to demonstrate the power of the weapon

This is the moment a mysterious figure was blown up in a video showcasing the pinpoint accuracy of South Korea's bunker-busting missiles.

Seoul tested a Hyunmoo Missile II during combined military exercises with the United States with the weapon seen thudding into a target.

But footage of the trial also shows flames and smoke coming out of a cave under the target - and engulfing a figure at the entrance of the tunnel.

South Koreans commenting on the footage asked whether the military had just blown up one of its guards - but others pointed out that the figure is likely to have been a mannequin designed to show the devastating impact of the rocket.

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WNU Editor: It looks like there is now a competition between North and South Korea on who can make the best video.

Knife Training With South Korean Navy SEALs (Video)

WNU Editor: Intense video. The above video is from this story .... Watch the intense knife training South Korea’s Navy SEALs go through (Business Insider).

How Good Is The South Korean Military?

Kyle Mizokami, National Interest: The Military Powerhouse North Korea Won't Want to Fight (And It's Not America)

The Republic of Korea Armed Forces, South Korea’s military, is the second-largest military on the Korean Peninsula and yet it is the least well known. Not as widely discussed as the U.S. military or Pyongyang’s Korean People’s Army, the ROK military is probably the most powerful armed force on either side of the DMZ. South Korea’s armed forces have evolved from a prewar constabulary force to a dynamic, self-equipped military equal to most Western armed forces.

The original ROK Armed Forces were formed shortly after the creation of the Republic of Korea in 1948. The armed forces initially consisted of an army that was more of an armed police force, an air force of light observation aircraft and no real navy to speak of. Small and lightly armed, it was no match for the North Korean People’s Army that surged across the border in June 1950. The Korean War saw U.S. advisors and equipment flow to build the ROK military into a force that could defend its own country, and by 1965 the army and marine corps were strong enough to send two combat divisions and a marine brigade to Vietnam. Over a nine-year period, three hundred thousand ROK personnel were rotated through Vietnam, where they earned a reputation for being tough guerrilla fighters.

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WNU Editor: The focus is on the North Korean military and what the U.S. may deploy to the Korean peninsula in the event of war. But in the event of war .... it will be the South Korean military that will be doing most of the fighting and they will be a formidable foe.

U.S. THAAD Missile Defense System Now Partially Operational In South Korea

BBC: US anti-missile system 'operational' in South Korea

The US military says its controversial Thaad missile defence system is "operational" in South Korea.

A spokesman said the system was now able to intercept North Korean missiles and defend the South.

But officials have told reporters that full operational capability is still some months away.

Tensions have been rising around the Korean peninsula, with repeated threats from North Korea and the presence of a group of US warships and a submarine.

On Monday, two US bombers took part in a joint drill with South Korea's air force in what the US said was a routine operation.

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More News On The U.S. THAAD Missile Defense System Now Partially Operational In South Korea

THAAD missile defense system now operational in S. Korea -- AFP
THAAD missile defense system initially capable in South Korea: sources -- Reuters
U.S. Says Thaad Missile Shield Ready to Defend South Korea -- Bloomberg
THAAD anti-missile system operational in South Korea -- ABC News
THAAD missile defence system operational in South Korea -- Al Jazeera
It's Official: THAAD Missile Defense Is Up and Running in South Korea -- The Diplomat
‘Ready to intercept North’s missiles’: US THAAD missile defense system goes operational in S. Korea -- RT