The Next-Generation Early Warning Control Aircraft to Protect Our Airspace

Sabsa's Global Eye

[Monthly Defense Times Editor-in-Chief An Seung-beom] Currently, our Air Force operates four E-737 Peace Eye early warning and control aircraft. Of the four, one is a reserve aircraft, and the other three are rotated one by one to maintain a constant airborne presence of one early warning and control aircraft. The reason for the additional procurement project is that the required number of early warning aircraft for continuous airborne operation has increased from one to two.

The project schedule aims to finalize the aircraft type in 2022 after going through the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on June 26, 2020, followed by project announcement and aircraft evaluation in 2021, and to add two early warning aircraft to the force by 2027. The project cost is expected to be about 1.3 trillion KRW.

The direct trigger for procuring two additional aircraft to maintain a total of six and sustain a continuous airborne posture of two aircraft is the expansion of the KADIZ, the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone.

On December 8, 2013, the southern boundary of the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone was extended to the Incheon FIR (Flight Information Region) boundary, incorporating the airspace of Ieodo, Hongdo, and Marado into our air defense identification zone. To manage this significantly expanded air defense identification zone, at least two early warning aircraft must be continuously airborne. Especially, the newly incorporated airspace in the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone is difficult to monitor with ground-based early warning radars, making this even more necessary.

The candidates for the 2nd E-X project are expected to be led by the E-737, currently operated by our Air Force, and Sweden’s Saab GlobalEye. Both the E-737 and Saab’s GlobalEye are considered the most likely candidates for the 2nd E-X project. Of course, the advantage of the E-737 in the 2nd E-X project is that it is an early warning aircraft already operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force. The logistics support system, maintenance, and training infrastructure for this type are already fully established within the ROK Air Force.

If additional procurement is made, the costs required for this will be minimally reflected in the program cost, making the program cost relatively lower. Also, the recent selection of the E-737 by the Royal Air Force is a factor that further lowers the program cost of the E-737.

The strength of Saab’s GlobalEye lies in its advanced system. Both the E-737 and GlobalEye integrate AESA radars, which have been continuously evolving over time.

The GlobalEye early warning and control aircraft’s AESA radar is an advanced system that evolved from the Erieye system’s AESA radar, adopted by Sweden, Thailand, Brazil, and Greece, known as the Erieye-ER system. This system reflects the most cutting-edge trends in AESA radar development. With advanced system integration, it offers excellent stealth target detection and tracking, strong electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) capabilities, long detection range, and more precise target tracking ability.

The importance of stealth target response capability is due to Japan’s large-scale introduction of F-35 stealth fighters and China’s deployment of J-20 stealth fighters. Additionally, China possesses numerous cruise missiles that are difficult to detect by radar. Korea is thus exposed to threats from powerful stealth air weapon systems of neighboring countries.

Considering that early warning aircraft in the post-2020 era must detect such aerial threats first, excellent stealth target detection capability is essential. This is the strength of the Erieye-ER system integrated into the GlobalEye system.

The GlobalEye system’s electronic warfare capability is also excellent. Our neighboring countries possess strong electronic warfare capabilities, especially the ability to jam long-range radars. To counter the strong electronic warfare capabilities of neighboring countries, it is important to maintain the radar’s detection and tracking capabilities as much as possible even when hostile electronic warfare is conducted against the early warning aircraft’s radar. In this regard, the GlobalEye system’s strong ECCM, or electronic counter-countermeasures capability, is also attractive.

In addition to the Erieye-ER radar on the upper fuselage, the integrated Seaspray 7500E maritime surveillance radar under the fuselage can simultaneously detect, track, and manage threats in the air and at sea. Based on this, it can serve as a joint surveillance reconnaissance asset and command and control hub capable of directing air-to-air, air-to-surface operations of the Air Force, and further command and control of joint operations among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

The GlobalEye system’s airframe platform is the Canadian-made Global 6000 business jet integrated with the Erieye-ER system. It is a platform specialized for long-range and high-altitude flight, which is also an advantage. Currently, the United Arab Emirates Air Force has ordered three units, recently received one, and the remaining two are undergoing final test flights. They plan to operate a total of four by adding one more unit.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.