Next Year's 3-Axis System Budget Totaling 5.2954 Trillion Won

10.2% Increase Compared to This Year... Development of New Tactical Surface-to-Surface Guided Weapon

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Five new projects under the 'Korean-style 3-axis system' to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, including the introduction of next-generation fighter jets (F-X) and the development of the Tactical Surface-to-Surface Guided Weapon (KTSSM)-Ⅱ, will be actively promoted in the new year.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 24th, the defense budget for the new year was approved by the National Assembly at 57.0143 trillion won, a 4.4% increase from this year. The defense capability improvement budget increased by 1.3% to 16.9169 trillion won, and the operational budget rose by 5.7% to 40.0974 trillion won.

During the National Assembly review process, 29.3 billion won was cut from projects with sluggish execution, while 96.8 billion won was added. The defense capability improvement budget was adjusted with a reduction of 166.4 billion won from the government proposal, and the reduced funds were redistributed with 65.4 billion won allocated to 10 projects, including new projects such as the F-X second phase (18.8 billion won), Cheolmae-Ⅱ performance upgrade second phase (27.8 billion won), long-range naval surface-to-air guided missile (0.9 billion won), Tactical Surface-to-Surface Guided Weapon-Ⅱ (12.7 billion won), large attack helicopter second phase (1.0 billion won), and K9A2 performance upgrade (2.5 billion won).

Among the six projects with increased budgets, five?excluding the large attack helicopter second phase?are part of the 3-axis system projects responding to the advancing North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

The military plans to enhance strike capabilities against key targets related to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats through the F-X second phase project, which involves additional procurement of F-35A aircraft, and the development of the new Tactical Surface-to-Surface Guided Weapon (KTSSM-Ⅱ), known as the 'long-range artillery killer.' It will also strengthen ballistic missile interception capabilities through the Cheolmae-Ⅱ performance upgrade second phase and the long-range naval surface-to-air guided missile projects, thereby reinforcing North Korea nuclear and missile response capabilities.

The long-range naval surface-to-air guided missile project aims to equip Aegis destroyers (KDX-Ⅲ) with long-range naval surface-to-air guided missiles (SM-6 class) to counter enemy ballistic missile threats during the terminal phase.

Accordingly, the budget for the 3-axis system next year was finalized at 5.2954 trillion won, a 10.2% increase from this year. Among the defense capability improvement budget government proposals, 20 projects were cut, including the large transport helicopter-Ⅱ (-17.5 billion won), short-range reconnaissance drone (-14.0 billion won), domestic supersonic fighter Boramae R&D (-6.1 billion won), critical facility surveillance system (-20.8 billion won), command post vehicles (-30.0 billion won), and 130mm guided rocket-Ⅱ (-19.5 billion won). The Ministry of National Defense explained that most of these cuts were made considering project progress.

The Ministry of National Defense emphasized, "The government and the National Assembly share the view that securing core capabilities to respond to nuclear and missile threats is the top priority amid the recent frequent military provocations by North Korea that escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, they additionally reflected the budgets for six projects, including the Korean-style 3-axis system, which need to be newly promoted in 2023."

The operational budget increased by 31.4 billion won for 18 items, including the establishment of the 'Regional Coexistence Special Meals for Soldiers,' while 42.9 billion won was cut from 12 items, including the defense cost-sharing facility sector.

The Regional Coexistence Special Meals for Soldiers project provides soldiers with an opportunity to dine out once a month, offering a meal worth approximately 13,000 won per person, in cooperation with restaurants in military garrison areas. The Ministry of National Defense expects this project to meet soldiers' dining-out demands, provide rest for cooks who work under intense conditions, and contribute to the sales of local small business owners, creating a new cooperation model between the military and local communities.

The budget for the pilot project of modular-type officer accommodations, amounting to 7.3 billion won, was also included for the first time. This project uses a construction method where standardized and regulated materials are manufactured in factories and assembled on-site. It is a newly launched project aimed at early improvement of junior officers' living conditions in forward areas with poor service environments.

Budgets were also allocated for the Incheon Landing Operation commemorative event (1.8 billion won), the construction of a UN Forces war dead memorial and sculpture (0.5 billion won), the 6.25 War Global Archive (0.6 billion won), and the establishment of a new exhibition on Korean War prisoners of war at the War Memorial (0.5 billion won). Cuts were made considering construction delays in the defense cost-sharing facility sector (-20.3 billion won), the 35th Squadron hangar (-6.5 billion won), and the Air Operations Command operational command facility (-1.3 billion won).

The relocation cost of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (2.01 billion won) was maintained as per the government proposal, and the budget for the light aircraft carrier was not reflected. The relocation cost for the Joint Chiefs of Staff will be pursued from 2024 and was not included in next year's budget.

The Ministry of National Defense stressed, "Despite difficult fiscal conditions, the government and the National Assembly prioritized allocating resources to the defense budget. Even as the government's total expenditure growth rate was drastically reduced from 8.9% to 5.1%, the defense budget growth rate was expanded from 3.4% to 4.4%."

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