[2022 National Audit] Marine Corps Independence... Promotion of '4-Army System'

Navy and Marine Corps National Assembly Audit Report Reveals Transition to Four-Force System
Navy Reduces Three Fleets to Establish 'Maritime Unmanned Power Command'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Marine Corps has decided to pursue a plan to become independent from the Navy in the mid to long term and transition to a 'four-armed forces system.'

At the National Defense Committee's audit held on the 21st at the Navy Headquarters in Gyeryongdae, the Navy Headquarters and the Marine Corps Command reported on this matter. The independence of the Marine Corps is a campaign pledge of President Yoon Suk-yeol, and the Marine Corps plans to prioritize measures that can strengthen its status and enhance its functions. The Ministry of National Defense sees the need for both policy decisions and public consensus for the Marine Corps' independence and will conduct policy research prior to the transition to the four-armed forces system.

The Marine Corps will also strive to secure unmanned capabilities. After 2033, it plans to acquire unmanned Korean Amphibious Assault Vehicles (KAAV) and amphibious swarm drones.

Additionally, the Marine Corps will increase overseas training and strengthen combat power by introducing new exercises such as company-level ground mobility unit training in the United States and platoon-level joint reconnaissance training with Indonesia next year. The division-level ROK-US joint amphibious exercise, Ssangryong Exercise, scheduled for March next year, will be conducted as planned, and participation from countries providing forces to the United Nations Command, including Canada, France, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia, will be pursued.

The Navy plans to reduce its current three fleets to two and establish a 'Maritime Unmanned Forces Command' to prepare for the future decrease in military manpower.

The current three fleet commands will be reduced to two by the 2040s, and instead, the Navy will establish the Maritime Unmanned Forces Command composed of unmanned surface vessel squadrons, unmanned submarine squadrons, and unmanned aircraft squadrons. In the short term, a Maritime Unmanned System Development Squadron will be created, followed by unmanned surface vessel and aircraft squadrons in the mid-term, leading to the establishment of the Maritime Unmanned Forces Command in the long term.

To this end, the personnel structure will shift from the current 62.9% officers and 37.1% enlisted personnel to 80% officers and 20% enlisted personnel by the 2040s. The Navy presented a blueprint to increase unmanned forces from the current 1% level to 9% in the mid-2020s, 28% in the mid-2030s, and approximately 45% in the 2040s.

The Navy will build a maritime-based mobile three-axis system, including an 'underwater kill chain' to counter North Korean submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM)-equipped submarines, a sea-based layered missile defense system, and enhanced precision strike capabilities using maritime forces. The underwater kill chain consists of next-generation submarines (over 3,000 tons), Maritime Patrol Aircraft-II, and Maritime Operation Helicopter-II. The sea-based missile defense system includes new Aegis destroyers such as the first ship of the next-generation Aegis destroyer class, Jeongjo Daewang (DDG-995, 8,200 tons), launched in July, and intermediate and terminal phase intercept guided missiles for Aegis destroyers.

To enhance precision strike capabilities using surface, underwater, and air forces, the Navy will pursue platforms encompassing space, cyber, and electromagnetic forces as well as destroyers and submarines.

Admiral Lee Jong-ho, Chief of Naval Operations, stated, "The Navy is establishing a solid military readiness posture and expanding its response capabilities. We will proactively promote the construction of a maritime-based mobile three-axis system and the development of AI-based maritime manned-unmanned complex systems."

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