Navy "Light Aircraft Carrier Project Proceeding Normally"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Navy emphasized its determination to proceed with the light aircraft carrier (light aircraft carrier) project as planned.

On the afternoon of the 14th, at the National Assembly Defense Committee's Navy Headquarters audit held at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong-si, Chungnam, Navy Chief of Staff Bu Seok-jong stated, "No matter what difficulties arise, all Navy personnel will unite tightly to ensure the light aircraft carrier project proceeds normally," and explained, "Research has been continuously conducted for 25 years since the Kim Young-sam administration, and in 2012, the Navy's enhancement study also suggested the need for vertical takeoff and landing aircraft."

The 30,000-ton light aircraft carrier was officially formalized when the Ministry of National Defense reflected the 'Multipurpose Large Transport Ship-II' concept design plan in the '2020-2024 Defense Mid-term Plan' in August 2019, and the concept design and basic design plans were included in the '2021-2025 Defense Mid-term Plan' last August. Additionally, the next year's defense budget includes 7.2 billion won as the project initiation budget for the construction of the light aircraft carrier.

Some point out that if sufficient destroyers, frigates, submarines, and reconnaissance assets to protect the light aircraft carrier are not secured, there is a high risk of being destroyed by enemy anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and ground-based hypersonic missiles.

Meanwhile, in the Navy's audit report on the same day, to prevent the recurrence of the Cheonghae Unit's mass infection, regulations related to overseas dispatch duties will be revised by the end of the year. To avoid controversy, the selection criteria for dispatched personnel will include 'those who have completed vaccination.' On-site inspections of dispatch preparation status will also be conducted under the Navy Headquarters' supervision. The revised guidelines will be applied first to the 36th Cheonghae Unit departing next month.

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