[Defense Interview] Northrop Grumman "Will Collaborate with Korean Defense Companies"

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The U.S. Navy conducted a combat suitability test for unmanned helicopters in amphibious assault operations on the USS Anchorage (LPD-23) landing ship on the 24th of last month. The unmanned helicopter at the time was the MQ-8C Fire Scout from global defense company Northrop Grumman. The MQ-8C is set to replace the existing MQ-8B model and will be deployed on overseas missions starting this year. Northrop Grumman, which dominates the unmanned aerial vehicle market, also supplied Global Hawk drones to the South Korean military. A total of four Global Hawks have been introduced and are currently conducting operations on the Korean Peninsula. We met with Northrop Grumman’s Ha Dong-jin, branch manager, to discuss the Korean unmanned market.

Mr. Ha emphasized the connection with the South Korean military. He said, “Since establishing a branch in Seoul in 1991, Northrop Grumman has been involved in various projects together,” adding, “Representative examples include the APG-68 fire control radar (FCR) mounted on the KF-16 fighter jets, the multifunction electronically scanned array (MESA) radar installed on the Airborne Early Warning and Control Peace Eye aircraft, the internal countermeasure system (ICS) on the F-15K, the APN-241 all-weather radar on the C-130, and support for South Korea’s missile defense (MD) system.”

He also highlighted the Global Hawk program delivered to South Korea. Mr. Ha stated, “Last year, four Global Hawks arrived in South Korea, aiming for operational deployment in the second half of this year, and they are expected to play a key role in the security of the Korean Peninsula.”

The Global Hawk is a satellite-level unmanned reconnaissance aircraft capable of identifying objects as small as 0.3 meters on the ground from an altitude of 20 km using special high-performance radar and infrared detection equipment. It can conduct operational flights lasting 38 to 42 hours per sortie. Its operational radius reaches 3,000 km, allowing surveillance beyond the Korean Peninsula. The Global Hawk has a wingspan of 35.4 meters, a length of 14.5 meters, a height of 4.6 meters, a maximum cruising speed of 250 km/h, and a weight of 11,600 kg.

Expectations for the Korean market are also high. Mr. Ha said, “We plan to challenge performance upgrade projects that can enhance the mission capabilities of aircraft such as the UH-60 helicopter fire control radar and the KF-16 fighter SABR radar currently operated by the South Korean military,” adding, “We will also focus on projects including the next-generation unmanned helicopter Fire Scout, the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) missile defense system, and the Joint Mobile Target Surveillance and Control aircraft.”

In particular, Northrop Grumman plans to propose the next-generation system for the advanced ground surveillance reconnaissance aircraft ‘Joint STARS’ (JSTARS). Mr. Ha said, “The JSTARS-K proposed by Northrop Grumman is the most advanced system, combining over 30 years of U.S. military operational experience with next-generation technology,” adding, “It will play a pivotal role in the security of the Republic of Korea.”

JSTARS is an advanced ground surveillance reconnaissance aircraft designed to closely monitor the movements of North Korea’s ground and naval forces. Operating at altitudes of 9 to 12 km, Joint STARS performs precise surveillance of North Korean ground forces’ surface-to-surface missiles, field army maneuvers, coastal artillery, and long-range artillery bases, as well as ground troops and equipment movements. It was deployed to Saudi Arabia in January 1991 and demonstrated its capability by accurately detecting moving targets during the Gulf War. This reconnaissance aircraft can remain airborne for about 11 hours per flight, with a range of 9,270 km.

Mr. Ha emphasized the significant military and economic benefits if the South Korean military adopts JSTARS-K. He added, “Strengthening interoperability with the U.S. military and fostering win-win cooperation with Korean defense companies will contribute to technological advancement and domestic market revitalization.”

Especially, Mr. Ha stressed the importance of collaboration with Korean companies. He explained, “To sustain growth in Korea, establishing long-term partnerships with domestic companies is essential,” adding, “Korea is world-class in fields such as telecommunications, so the synergy from collaboration will be very significant.”

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