US gives green light for another Peace Krypton support package
The US State Department has approved a possible FMS for equipment and services to extend the service life of the Hawker RC-800 Peace Krypton reconnaissance aircraft in service with the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF).
If the FMS is approved Lockheed Martin will be the prime contractor on the $250 million deal, which includes ground system modernisation work and upgrades to the Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS).
Lockheed Martin was the previous contractor for Peace Krypton support, but that contract expired in December 2019.
Four Peace Krypton aircraft are in service with the ROKAF but these refurbished twin-jet corporate aircraft are showing their age, as they were bought in 1996. With this in mind, the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration plans to spend KRW870 billion on buying two Baekdu-II Falcon 2000S SIGINT and reconnaissance aircraft for the ROKAF by 2026.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
You may also like
More from Air Warfare
-
![Will the US Navy F/A-XX and the USAF F-47 compete for production capacities?]()
Will the US Navy F/A-XX and the USAF F-47 compete for production capacities?
The two sixth-generation fighter programmes could battle for engineering talent and production lines before deliveries begin, testing Boeing’s industrial expansion plans.
-
![September drone digest: Attrition-tolerant aircraft pitched to replace the Reaper]()
September drone digest: Attrition-tolerant aircraft pitched to replace the Reaper
The loss of many MQ-9 Reapers during the 2026 Iran War has underscored the risks of sending relatively expensive UAVs into contested airspace. In September, new contenders to replace the Reaper emerged, championing cheaper, modular aircraft designs for mass production and inevitable attrition.
-
![E-3 Sentry encryption equipment no longer meets US security requirements, says USAF]()
E-3 Sentry encryption equipment no longer meets US security requirements, says USAF
The US Air Force says the Sentry fleet’s DAR-400 encryptor can no longer keep pace with changing security requirements and warns that a failure could affect US operations and data security.
-
![Spain air focus: Mature UAV market rewards early supplier engagement]()
Spain air focus: Mature UAV market rewards early supplier engagement
Spain accounts for 5% of European military UAV spending, broadly in line with its share of the continent’s wider defence market. What sets the country apart, however, is how much of that spending has already been committed, reflecting Spain's earlier adoption of the capability.
-
![New US Army UH-60M Black Hawk order bridges uncertain path to MV-75 transition]()
New US Army UH-60M Black Hawk order bridges uncertain path to MV-75 transition
The US$234 million award for 16 Sikorsky UH-60Ms preserves near-term production, but funding uncertainty and an undefinitised contract leave the US Army’s long-term Black Hawk requirements unresolved.
-
![Rafale AI trials highlight shift towards operational fighter testbeds]()
Rafale AI trials highlight shift towards operational fighter testbeds
Dassault’s latest Rafale trials join Gripen E and F-16 testing as developers explore how artificial intelligence could support and control combat aircraft.
