‘Korean-style Iron Dome’ to Be Developed Domestically

by Yang Nakgyu

Published 28 Jun.2021 14:15(KST)

Iron Dome missile launch scene

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] A domestic development of the weapon system called the ‘Korean Iron Dome,’ designed to intercept North Korean long-range artillery in emergencies, is underway.

On the 28th, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced at the 137th Defense Acquisition Program Promotion Committee (hereafter DAPPC) meeting, chaired by Defense Minister Seo Wook, that the ‘Long-range Artillery Interception System Project’ will be pursued through domestic research and development.

This project aims to strengthen the response capability against the threat of North Korean long-range artillery (rocket artillery) while securing domestic technological capabilities and creating jobs. Although the project period is from next year until 2035, efforts will be made to shorten it by more than two years. With a total budget of 2.89 trillion KRW, this project is intended to protect critical national facilities and military security installations from long-range artillery threats.

Previously, the Ministry of National Defense announced in August last year, according to the ‘2021-2025 Defense Mid-term Plan,’ that it would develop an interception system to block North Korean long-range artillery threatening the Seoul metropolitan area.

The long-range artillery interception system, called the ‘Korean Iron Dome,’ involves installing guided missile launchers at multiple locations to form a dome-shaped air defense network that intercepts incoming long-range artillery shells. It is a weapon system similar to Israel’s ‘Iron Dome.’

Near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) on the North Korean side, about 1,000 various long-range artillery pieces are deployed. Among these, the military authorities assess that six battalions of 170mm self-propelled guns with a range of 54 km and about ten battalions of 240mm rocket launchers with a range of 60 km, totaling over 330 units, are directly targeting Seoul and the metropolitan area.

Additionally, the DAPPC decided to secure the ‘Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)’ project through domestic research and development. This project aims to acquire UAVs with VTOL capabilities to enable efficient aerial surveillance and reconnaissance in the Korean Peninsula’s mountainous terrain, where runways are limited. The total budget of 1.28 trillion KRW will be invested from next year until 2033.

DAPA stated, "Through this project, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for key targets in operational areas expanding due to military structural reorganization will be enhanced, and it is expected to contribute to the revitalization of the domestic drone industry."

The Air Force’s F-35A performance upgrade project will be pursued through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) method. The latest technologies will be continuously applied to progressively improve performance, and subsequent logistics support will be guaranteed. Enhancements in the F-35A’s encryption and security functions, data processing capabilities, and threat response abilities are expected to expand its joint operation execution and weapons operation capabilities. A total budget of 370 billion KRW will be invested from next year until 2030.

Furthermore, the large transport helicopter replacing the Army’s aging Chinook (CH-47D) helicopters will be procured through overseas purchase from 2022 to 2032 with a budget of 1.31 trillion KRW. DAPA also reviewed and approved the basic project strategies for the ‘Shipborne Electronic Warfare Equipment-II Project’ and the ‘Joint Maritime Tactical Data Link Performance Upgrade (Link-22) Project,’ as well as the technology cooperation production plan for the ‘Korean-type Autonomous Crossing Equipment Project,’ which will secure the equipment through technology cooperation production.