Korean THAAD deployment accelerates
South Korea's deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is accelerating with the Ministry of National Defence (MND) signing an agreement with Lotte International for a proposed THAAD site, MND announced on 23 November.
The MND signed the agreement with Lotte International to acquire Lotte Skyhill Seongju Country Club (Seongju golf course), which has been selected as a THAAD deployment site. It plans to select an assessment and appraisal institution to calculate the market value of the site following which an exchange contract will proceed.
The site was selected in September. It will be exchanged with the military reservation in Namyangju.
The military reservation in Namyangju covers an area of 200,000 square metres; while the area of the Seongju golf course is 1.48 million square metres. Seongju golf course will come into the MND’s possession when MND and Lotte finalise their negotiation based on site appraisal and assessment results. Following the acquisition of Seongju golf course, the MND will hand over the site to the US Forces Korea that will operate THAAD in accordance with the Korea-US Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
The US bears all the costs for the THAAD development and operation, whereas Korea provides the site and infrastructure development.
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![US deploys Mid-Range Capability missile defence system to the Philippines]()
US deploys Mid-Range Capability missile defence system to the Philippines
Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile defence system has leveraged Lockheed Martin’s expertise with two in-service USN systems: the MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) and the Aegis Weapon System.
-
![USMC narrows down field for light loitering munition requirement]()
USMC narrows down field for light loitering munition requirement
The US Marine Corps selected a team of UVision and Mistral to meet a requirement for Organic Precision Fires Mounted (OPF-M) loitering munition in 2021. It has now awarded contracts for the soldier carried light (OPF-L) version after the success of similar systems in Ukraine highlighted the potential for such weapons.
-
![The Netherlands orders more GM200 compact tactical radars]()
The Netherlands orders more GM200 compact tactical radars
The Ground Master 200 (GM200), a medium range tactical radar, is part of the Ground Master family architecture, which shares common hardware, software building blocks and interfaces. As a multi-mission radar, it can carry out air surveillance, air defence, CRAM and surface vessel detection.
-
![British Army to overhaul dismounted close combat capabilities]()
British Army to overhaul dismounted close combat capabilities
The future of the British Army’s DCC capabilities will include replacement equipment for female personnel and a new procurement framework.
-
![US approves support of Ukrainian Hawk missile systems]()
US approves support of Ukrainian Hawk missile systems
The decades-old HAWK system has undergone substantial improvements since its introduction into service.
-
![Rheinmetall to supply 20 more Marder IFVs to Ukraine]()
Rheinmetall to supply 20 more Marder IFVs to Ukraine
From 1970, 2,136 Marders were produced, with the latest German Army standard being the 1A5 which was upgraded for use in Afghanistan. Ex-German Marders have been in service in Chile and Ukraine, while Argentina uses the locally built VCTP, a derivative of the Marder.
