"The Weapon to Counter Russia Is in Korea"…The Anti-Aircraft Weapon Requested by Ukraine

The Shingung is portable but operated on a tripod-type mounting launcher.

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Interest is growing in the portable surface-to-air guided weapon Shingung as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky requests military equipment from our country. The Shingung is considered the most suitable air defense weapon for shooting down Russian fighter jets and missiles, as mentioned by President Zelensky.

On the 11th, President Zelensky delivered a video speech to ruling and opposition lawmakers at the National Assembly Library auditorium, stating, "South Korea has various military equipment capable of stopping Russian ships and missiles," and added, "We would appreciate it if South Korea could assist us in standing against Russia."

On the 8th, Ukraine also called Defense Minister Suh Wook to request support for air defense weapons. However, military authorities reportedly declined, stating that "support for lethal weapons is difficult." Nonetheless, our government is providing military supplies such as bulletproof helmets, tents, blankets, and medical supplies.

The Shingung allows soldiers to visually detect enemy aircraft, after which the infrared seeker mounted on the front of the guided missile can track the target. It is mainly operated to protect infantry units or defend important assets. It is classified into shoulder-fired guided missiles, which are launched after being carried on the shoulder with the missile built into the launch tube, and mounted guided missiles, which are launched after being placed on a launcher. Among surface-to-air guided weapons, the Shingung has the shortest range and the simplest weapon system configuration.

In particular, the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment uses the U.S.-type KIV-77 crypto computer. Especially in operation mode (Mode-5), it can distinguish between friendly and enemy forces and enable firing. It applies the fire-and-forget concept, where the target is visually detected, acquired by the missile seeker, and then launched.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Suh and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Won In-chul met with Rob Bauer, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee (Admiral of the Royal Netherlands Navy), who is visiting Korea, to discuss the Ukraine situation and other matters. This is the first visit by the NATO Military Committee Chairman in six years since May 2016.

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