Is the 'Special Operations Submachine Gun Project' Undergoing a Complete Review?

On the 14th, participants are experiencing rifles including the STC-16 submachine gun at the 'Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition 2019' held at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. / Seongnam - Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] There are calls for a complete reconsideration of the new special operations submachine gun project. The special operations submachine gun is intended for soldiers assigned special missions, but the company selected to manufacture this rifle received additional points for being a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), raising concerns about the guarantee of its technical capabilities. In particular, this company is currently under suspicion of leaking confidential information related to rifles from the military.

The rifle currently used by special forces soldiers is the K1A submachine gun. The K1A submachine gun, supplied since 1982, has the advantage of an adjustable stock length and a short barrel for easy portability, but it is an outdated model.

For this reason, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) proceeded with the development project for a special operations submachine gun and planned to deploy about 16,000 units in actual service starting around 2024. In the competitive bidding, Company A was selected as the preferred negotiation candidate. It is known that Company A received additional points for being an SME. There was surprise both inside and outside the military. Even with the additional points, considering independent technology development capability, production, and financial soundness, it was virtually impossible for Company A to win the contract. Subsequently, DAPA promoted a separate project to purchase submachine guns considering the time required for new development, but Company A was still likely to win this project as well.

However, problems arose. In July of last year, Company A was subjected to a search and seizure by the Security Support Command (SSC). It is reported that a large amount of military secrets related to the next-generation submachine gun, classified as Level 2 military secrets, were found on the PC of an executive of Company A. This included the military’s rifle development strategy and plans, as well as the future submachine gun’s required operational capability (ROC). The SSC is focusing on the fact that the executive of Company A previously worked in the Army Headquarters’ Power Unit responsible for firearm development. There are suspicions within and outside the military that Company A, lacking technical skills, may have hired a retired officer capable of leaking secrets as an executive. Some argue that if the investigation confirms the leak of secrets, the entire project should be reconsidered.

Shin Jong-woo, Secretary General of the Korea Defense and Security Forum, said, “Weapon systems that deal with lives must incorporate cutting-edge technology,” adding, “If defense acquisition policies prioritize SMEs and introduce weapon systems with inferior performance, the safety of soldiers cannot be guaranteed.” He further stated, “Distinguishing between large and small companies in project participation is not realistic, and defense acquisition policies that prioritize specific companies should be approached with caution.”

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