Raytheon to upgrade South Korea’s Patriot system
South Korea has awarded Raytheon a contract to upgrade an undisclosed number of its Patriot air and missile defence system batteries to the latest configuration, the company announced on 30 March.
The upgrades under the $769.4 million direct commercial sale contract include an open architecture so that the system can operate on various networks. They also include the Modern Man Station operator interface, which features touch screen technology and colour graphical displays.
Raytheon will also upgrade South Korea’s Patriot systems with a radar digital processor for improved target detection and identification, surveillance and support of the PAC-3 MSE missile.
Dan Crowley, president, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, said: ‘The upgrade enhances the Republic of Korea’s defences and underscores the value of the 13-nation strong Patriot partnership which funded development of the modernisation.
‘The Republic of Korea’s procurement is also an economic growth engine which will bring good jobs to Korea and preserve jobs in the US, which would have gone overseas if a foreign system was selected.’
South Korea awarded a $160 million contract to Raytheon in late 2014 to upgrade its missiles to the GEM-T configuration.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![UK plans to adopt “phased approach to restarting” British Army Ajax programme]()
UK plans to adopt “phased approach to restarting” British Army Ajax programme
The introduction of Ajax vehicles into British Army service was stopped after health issues during an exercise. However, an investigation reported “no single causal mechanism of the symptoms reported by our soldiers but rather a combination of multiple factors”.
-
![Australia backs up investment promises with US$2.1 billion for Bushmaster and HIMARS]()
Australia backs up investment promises with US$2.1 billion for Bushmaster and HIMARS
The Australian government is ordering another 268 Thales Bushmaster medium protected mobility vehicles along with HIMARS for a second long‑range fires regiment.
-
![Battle management C2 systems are driving the next phase of integrated air defence]()
Battle management C2 systems are driving the next phase of integrated air defence
Battlefield and wider air defence C2 systems integrating a range of agnostic sensors have risen in prominence, from Turkey’s Aselsan developing Steel Dome to Northrop Grumman providing its own system to Poland and the US Army.
-
![Ireland targets improved anti-drone capability before mid-year ahead of EU presidency]()
Ireland targets improved anti-drone capability before mid-year ahead of EU presidency
With Ireland's EU presidency set to commence from July this year, the ramped-up efforts to procure a counter-uncrewed aerial system and radar capability under its Military Radar Programme are on track to meet targeted roll-out dates.
