South Korea approves multiple projects including IFVs and missiles
South Korea will buy additional K21 infantry fighting vehicles for its army (Gordon Arthur)
New weapons and capabilities for South Korea’s army, navy and air force were approved at a recent defence meeting.
Seven disparate South Korean development and acquisition programmes for the country’s military were approved during the 143rd meeting of the Defense Acquisition Program Committee on 26 April.
Headlining the approvals were decisions to procure additional K21 infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) and develop the Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile-II (KTSSM-II).
A budget of KRW830 billion ($658 million) has been approved for more K21s to help replace the older K200A1 fleet of APCs, which numbers approximately 2,400.
These vehicles form the backbone of the Republic of Korea Army’s (ROKA) manoeuvre corps, and the extra IFVs will help complete their reorganisation and add firepower.
The
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Defence Notes
-
![“Capital follows confidence” as defence courts private money]()
“Capital follows confidence” as defence courts private money
Outside investment and the direction in which venture money flows may reveal what defence will buy years before formal programmes begin.
-
![Canada’s new military drone marketplace targets rapid acquisition pipeline]()
Canada’s new military drone marketplace targets rapid acquisition pipeline
The Department of National Defence expects initial contracts to deliver thousands of uncrewed systems, but has yet to establish the quantities, capability mix or deadline behind Ottawa’s promised tenfold expansion.
-
![Ukraine turns legacy Kongsberg land turrets into semi-autonomous USV weapons]()
Ukraine turns legacy Kongsberg land turrets into semi-autonomous USV weapons
The company told Shephard that Ukraine is operating modified Protector weapon stations originally supplied for armoured vehicles, with human operators authorising engagements from hundreds of kilometres away.
-
![UK urged to prioritise sea, air and space over heavy armour]()
UK urged to prioritise sea, air and space over heavy armour
A report from the Council on Geostrategy argues the UK should move away from a traditional balanced force and shift investment to naval, air and space capabilities, backed by a larger fleet of attack submarines and deeper AUKUS integration.
-
![Thales: deployment speed to determine winners in ‘production versus production’ era]()
Thales: deployment speed to determine winners in ‘production versus production’ era
At its technology summit in London, attended by Shephard, Thales UK examined the importance of speed to delivery, the growing focus on cross-domain capabilities and how procurement reform could be crucial for future battlefield advantage.
-
![Orchestrating operational readiness across every defence domain]()
Orchestrating operational readiness across every defence domain
Are all systems ready for the next mission? Have upgrades been applied? Are all assets aligned to deploy together, on time and fully prepared? In modern defence operations, readiness is no longer measured platform by platform. It is measured by how well people, assets, data and decisions move together — across land, sea and air.
