Seoul develops integrated combat system for naval ships

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Wednesday introduced an indigenous
integrated combat system for its Navy warships that can simultaneously detect and
monitor up to 100 aerial and surface targets.
The new technology also employs an automated weapons control system, similar to
that of the Aegis combat system, that allows the ship to automatically engage a
multiple number of targets upon detection, said the system's developer, the
Agency for Defense Development (ADD).
"The development of the combat system significantly increases the possibility of
developing our indigenous combat systems for next generation warships, as well as
submarines, while it also provides a significant opportunity to boost our Navy's
combat capabilities," the ADD said in a press release.
Currently, the new system is only compatible with Patrol Killer Guided-Missile
(PKG) ships, but its core technology can be applied to larger or different types
of ships, ADD officials said.
Each system is expected to cost between 17 billion to 18 billion won (US$11.6
million to $12.3 million), significantly lower than the 24 billion won needed to
purchase a foreign-built system, it said.
It will also help save over 100 billion won in maintenance costs over the next 20
years.
"This means our defense technology has now reached the level of the most advanced
nations, especially in the field of integrated combat systems where we had been
heavily dependent on others," the ADD said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)