South Korea selects bidders to develop missiles for country's future light-armed helicopters

a
 
World Defense & Security News - South Korea
 
 
 
South Korea selects bidders to develop missiles for country's future light-armed helicopters
 
South Korea tentatively picked three defense manufacturers Monday for its project to develop air-to-surface missiles for light-armed helicopters from 2023, the defense procurement agency said. Hanwha, LIG Nex 1 and Poongsan were selected as preferred bidders in the deal to take up the missile development during a meeting of the decision-making committee of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) earlier in the day.
     
South Korea selects bidders to develop missiles for countrys future light armed helicopters 640 001South Korea will select a defense manufacturer for its project to develop air-to-surface missiles for light-armed helicopters from 2023
     
With precision strike functions, the air-to-surface anti-tank missiles will be used in arming the Army's light-armed helicopters in replacement of the Army's aging BGM-71 TOW missiles for nine years from 2023.


The budget for the development and mass production has been set at 500 billion won (US$437 million).

With the similar weight of about 3 kilometers, the new missiles could fly up to eight kilometers, more than twice the range of 3.7 km by TOW, the DAPA said.

Poongsan will take up the development of the missile's warhead while the others are to develop other parts of the weapon.

In the same meeting, the committee also gave its nod to the agency's plan to buy a computer and radar system from U.S.-based Lockheed Martin to equip three future Aegis destroyers with an upgraded combat system.

"The results of negotiations with Lockheed Martin over functions and offset trade have met the requirement," the DAPA said, adding that the latest approval will allow the agency to proceed with the purchase deal through the U.S. foreign military sale program.

"The purchase of the new combat system will equip Ageis destroyers with increased water-surface, undercurrent and mid-air counter-attack capacities while newly bringing in functions to detect, track down and intercept ballistic missiles," the agency said.