Latest news with #DefenseAcquisitionProgramAdministration
Korea Herald
5 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
S. Korea in talks to launch NATO defense consultative body in September
South Korea is in talks with NATO to launch a working-level defense consultative body as early as September, through which it would seek to expand opportunities for local defense firms to enter the European market. The inaugural session of the consultative body is being discussed for late September in Brussels, Belgium, with final arrangements still being coordinated by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and NATO, according to an official at the arms procurement agency on Tuesday. The consultative body would aim to strengthen cooperation across a wide range of defense areas, including joint weapons acquisition and research and development, logistics support, standardization and airworthiness certification, and training and education. Its launch is expected to provide South Korean defense companies with an additional export channel to NATO's European member states, the official said. The consultative body was first proposed by DAPA Commissioner Seok Jong-gun during his visit to Belgium in April. It gained traction following a meeting between National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in The Hague on the sidelines of the NATO summit in June. During Wi's visit to The Hague, the two sides also discussed the possibility of Seoul's participation in NATO's High Visibility Projects, a next-generation program focused on the joint development and procurement of advanced military capabilities. With NATO member states set to boost their defense budgets, the European market is emerging as a strategic opportunity for South Korean defense exporters. In June, NATO member states agreed to raise their total defense-related expenditure to 5 percent of gross domestic product by 2035, including 3.5 percent allocated to defense budgets and 1.5 percent to indirect investments, apparently in response to US President Donald Trump's demands that they increase defense spending. The projected expansion of the European defense market is seen as a timely opportunity for South Korean defense firms, which are known for their cost competitiveness and rapid delivery, the DAPA official added.
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
South Korea deploys upgraded Cheongung defense system
South Korea has successfully deployed its enhanced air defense system capable of striking down ballistic targets, the state arms procurement agency said Monday. The first batch of the new Cheongung-II system, upgraded from the Cheongung-I, has been successfully deployed to the South Korean military and is projected to be fully installed and in operation by 2027, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The upgraded system is effective against both aircraft and ballistic targets and is designed to intercept incoming missiles at altitudes of 15 kilometers and ranges of 40 km. It is equipped with a high-performance multi-function radar and improved interceptor missiles. The new system is also known as M-SAM 2 to distinguish it from Cheongung-I, the first locally developed surface-to-air missile system in South Korea. The Cheongung-I system focuses on striking a hostile aircraft at an altitude of up to 40 kilometers. DAPA said that a total of 645 billion won ($467 million) was invested in the project to upgrade the air defense system. The upgrade project helped them to significantly save costs, compared to deploying new air defense systems, the agency noted. In 2024, South Korea exported 10 Cheongung-II missile defense systems to Saudi Arabia under a $3.2-billion deal. The Cheongung-II system has been previously sold and exported to the United Arab Emirates in 2022 under a separate $3.5 billion deal.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
S. Korea to attend intl. defense exhibition in Turkey this week
South Korea will participate in a global defense industry fair in Turkey this week to promote homegrown defense products and boost their export bids, the arms procurement agency said Wednesday. The International Defence Industry Fair, which opened Tuesday (local time) in Istanbul for a five-day run, will bring together defense officials from more than 80 countries, including North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states. Six South Korean small and medium-sized enterprises will showcase homegrown defense technologies aimed at entering the European and Middle Eastern markets, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said. DAPA said it plans to operate joint booths at upcoming defense exhibitions in Poland in September and the United States in October. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
DAPA completes live-fire test of homegrown Marine attack helicopter
South Korea's arms procurement agency said Monday it has successfully conducted day-and-night live-fire tests of machine guns and rockets for the Marine Attack Helicopter, which is currently under development and slated for completion next year. According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the tests were conducted three times during the first half of this year to verify the helicopter's combat capabilities under both daytime and nighttime conditions. The evaluation focused on its performance in combat-relevant scenarios required for amphibious operations. DAPA described the test as a significant milestone toward enabling the Marine Corps to operate its aerial combat assets independently. 'The successful day-and-night live-fire tests proved the helicopter's core capabilities necessary for deployment,' a DAPA official said. Korea Aerospace Industries is leading the development of the new attack helicopter, which is based on the platform manufacturer's Marine Utility Helicopter, also known as the Marineon. Development began in 2022, and the prototype completed its maiden flight in January 2025. The new helicopter also integrates advanced avionics and weapons systems previously applied in KAI's Light Armed Helicopter. Additional evaluations will be conducted later this year, focusing on guided rockets and air-to-ground missiles, the agency added. Once deployed, the Marine Attack Helicopter will provide fire support during amphibious assaults alongside the Marineon and deliver close air support for ground forces. A total of 24 units are scheduled to be delivered to the Marine Corps by the second half of 2026.
Korea Herald
12-07-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Salute from skies: Black Eagles honor K-Defense Day
The South Korean Air Force's Black Eagles aerobatic team performed a commemorative flight over the skies of Seoul on Saturday, marking the inaugural K-Defense Day. Designated as an official commemorative day on July 8, 2023, K-Defense Day is being formally observed for the first time this year. The occasion celebrates the development of South Korea's defense industry and honors the contributions of those working in the sector. K-Defense Day falls on July 8 each year, commemorating a historic moment in 1592, when Korea's iconic turtle ship was first deployed in battle during the Battle of Sacheon amid the Imjin War (1592–1598), according to the state-run Defense Acquisition Program Administration. "It will serve as a reminder of the historic moment when we defended the nation with weapons of our own making — and as an opportunity to highlight the importance of the defense industry and to recognize the dedication and sacrifices of those who serve in it," DAPA said.
