South Korea goes for more F-35 fighters and SM-6 missiles to strengthen air defense

Seoul approved the budget needed to purchase a new batch of fifth-generation F-35 fighters, and will equip its AEGIS destroyers with SM-6 long-range air defense missiles.

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The Defense Acquisition Programs Administration (DAPA) reported the approval by the Defense Projects Promotion Committee of the budget needed to purchase new F-35As for the Air Force and modern SM-6 missiles for the Navy.

Going for the remaining F-35

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) currently has 40 operational F-35As (conventional takeoff and landing version for ground operations), out of the 60 it was authorized to procure in 2013 via FMS.

In July last year, DAPA had also announced that the remaining 20 F-35As were to be purchased for $2.97 billion. However, no new information then emerged to verify the completion of the purchase. Therefore, the current news that a budget of $2.85 billion was authorized for the acquisition of more F-35As must be related to that 2022 announcement, although on this occasion, the number of aircraft to be incorporated was not specified. South Korea is expected to receive the aircraft during 2028.

See also: South Korea seeks to replace its aging F-4 and F-5 fighters as soon as possible

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Navy reinforces its anti-aircraft and anti-missile shields

The Defense Projects Promotion Committee also authorized a budget of approximately $590 million for a first purchase of SM-6 missiles, which will be integrated into its KDX-III class AEGIS destroyers. In a second phase, funds will be released to equip KDX-III Batch II destroyers with this same missile system.

Manufactured by the U.S. company Raytheon, the SM-6 is a unique weapon system that can perform anti-aircraft warfare, ballistic missile defense and anti-surface warfare missions.

Equipped with the SM-6, the ROK Navy’s KDX-III destroyers (Daehanminguk Haegun) will be integrated with the land-based elements of the ballistic missile shield being developed by Seoul to counter the nuclear threat from its northern neighbor.