[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Strategic Weapons to be Commanded by the Strategic Command

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] As the military plans to establish a "Strategic Command" in 2024 to command and control the Korean-style 3-axis system aimed at enhancing capabilities against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, attention is focusing on strategic weapons.

According to the military on the 7th, the 3-axis system refers to the "Kill Chain" that detects, tracks, and strikes North Korean missiles; the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system that intercepts North Korea's ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM); and the Korean Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) system that annihilates enemy command facilities.

The Strategic Command is expected to serve as the "control tower" for the 3-axis system, which is currently managed separately by each branch of the military. In the case of the United States, the U.S. Strategic Commander is appointed from among generals of the Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps. The Strategic Command is also one of the integrated combat commands under the Ministry of National Defense. The primary mission of the U.S. Strategic Commander is to assist the President in the use of nuclear weapons in times of emergency. The three major nuclear forces under the Strategic Command’s jurisdiction include intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), strategic nuclear submarines (SSBN), and long-range bombers (B-52H, B-2A).

In South Korea, the Strategic Command will be established by expanding and reorganizing the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s "Nuclear and WMD Response Center." Considering the ranks of the Navy and Air Force operational commanders (Lieutenant General), it is known that the rank of the Strategic Commander is also being considered at the level of Lieutenant General or General.

The Strategic Command will command key forces of the 3-axis system, including reconnaissance satellites, long-range air-to-ground guided missiles, tactical surface-to-surface guided weapons (KTSSM), long-range surface-to-air guided weapons, extended-range Patriot (PAC-3 MSE) missiles, various Hyunmoo-series ballistic missiles, F-35A stealth fighters, and 3,000-ton class submarines.

The 3,000-ton class submarine, Jangbogo-III class, is about twice the tonnage of the Jangbogo-II class (1,800 tons) submarine and is equipped with a high-performance fuel cell air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, extending its underwater endurance. Notably, it carries SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missiles) that were successfully flight-tested after being launched from a submarine. With this test success, South Korea became the seventh country in the world to operate SLBMs. The 3,000-ton class submarine is equipped with six vertical launch tubes for SLBMs. It can carry and operate at least six SLBMs, enabling strategic strikes on critical ground targets in times of emergency. It also carries mines and torpedoes.

The South Korean military has decided to proceed with the additional acquisition of advanced stealth fighters, the F-35A, which was delayed during the Moon Jae-in administration. From 2023 through the mid-to-late 2020s, approximately 3.9 trillion won will be invested to acquire about 20 F-35A aircraft.

Additionally, the number of Patriot (PAC-3) guided missiles with a range of 40 km will be significantly increased, and the performance of existing launchers will be upgraded. About 750 billion won will be invested over six years from this year through 2027.

Following the end of the South Korea-U.S. missile guidelines, the South Korean military will begin mass production of the Hyunmoo series missiles starting this year. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has reportedly named the ground-launched surface-to-surface ballistic missile "Hyunmoo 4-1," the ship-launched surface-to-surface ballistic missile "Hyunmoo 4-2," and the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) "Hyunmoo 4-4," according to the launch platform.

The Hyunmoo 4-1 has a warhead weight of 2 tons, offering at least three times the penetration power compared to the currently strongest GBU-57. It can penetrate over 24 meters of reinforced concrete and 180 meters of ordinary ground, effectively reaching tactical nuclear-level power. The Hyunmoo 4-2 missile is planned to be mounted on 30,000-ton light aircraft carriers, and the Hyunmoo 4-4 missile on 3,000-ton class submarines.

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