The Rise and Rise of South Korea’s Arms Exports

Major defense exports

K9 Thunder Gun-Howitzer

The K9 Thunder 155mm / 52 caliber SPH is among the most popular howitzers in the world. This is due to its competitive performance and attractive price. The self-propelled artillery has been exported to Poland, India, Australia, Egypt, Norway etc.

Potential deals that could go South Korea’s way

 Hanwha is offering K9A2 for UK’s Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) program. The stand-out feature of K9A2 is a fully automatic ammunition handling system to increase the rate of fire to 10 rounds per minute. Besides, the proposed British version of the K9A2 will be equipped with new composite rubber tracks.

K2 Main Battle Tank

Designed by the South Korean Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and manufactured by Hyundai Rotem, the K2 is one of the world’s most high-tech and expensive battle tanks- a single unit costs around $8.5 million. Russia’s T-14 Armata and U.S.-made M1A2 Abrams come with a price tag of $3.7 million and $4.3 million respectively.

On 27 July 2022, Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) and Hyundai Rotem signed a framework agreement to supply 180 K2s and 820 K2PLs.

KAI T-50 Aircraft

Developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Lockheed Martin, the T-50 Golden Eagle is a family of supersonic advanced jet trainers and light combat aircraft. T-50 has been further developed into aerobatic and combat variants, namely T-50B, TA-50, and FA-50. The aircraft has a top speed of 1,640 km/h at 9 km altitude, which makes the Golden Eagle one of the fastest trainers in the world.

A single unit of T-50 costs around $30 million. The T-50 is in the same class as trainers like American Boeing / BAE Systems T-45 Goshawk and Yakovlev Yak-130.

KF-21 Project

The KF-21 Boramae stealthy fighter is being developed by South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with Indonesia.

The air-frame is stealthier than any fourth-generation fighter, but does not carry weapons in internal bays like fifth-generation fighters, though internal bays may be introduced later in development.

To know more about KF-21 jet’s features, please click here.

Competition in the market

The KF-21 is seen as a competitor to Lockheed Martin’s F-16, Saab’s Gripen, and Chinese jets such as J-10, J-20 and FC-31.

Potential KF-21 customers

The Philippines Air Force has announced that it could consider the KF-21 even after  having shortlisted the F-16 and the Gripen for its fighter acquisition program.

Indonesia as a partner in the KF-21 project, is expected to receive some 50 aircraft. Other potential buyers could be Egypt and Tunisia.

Offshore Patrol Vessels

South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) won a $573 million contract to deliver Offshore Patrol Vessels (OFVs) to the Philippine Navy in June 2022.

FFX Multipurpose Frigates

The Incheon-class frigates, also known as the Future Frigate eXperimental (FFX), are coastal defense frigates of the Republic of Korea Navy. Philippines placed an order for two new Incheon-class frigates in October 2016.

An improved version is being introduced as the FFX Batch III Ulsan-class frigates Six of which will be built in South Korea.

Several countries in South East Asia are reported to have expressed in the FFX Batch III Ulsan-class frigates as their speed, features and weaponry have few competitors in the world.

Jang Bogo-class submarines

Indonesia purchased three 1,400-ton Jang Bogo-class submarines as part of a $1.07 billion deal signed in 2011. Jakarta is also expected to ink another $900 million contract for three additional submarines.

Strong R&D is the secret to South Korea’s weapons exports

South Korea’s defense R & D push is spearheaded by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Defense Technology Promotion Institute (DTPI) and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD).

In addition to using its home grown R & D to develop its own products, South Korea is positioning itself as a developer and exporter of cutting-edge solutions for the Western defense industry.

At an event in Seoul during September 2022, the U.S. Army's Combat Capability Development Command introduced major areas of interest for possible cooperation and R&D projects with South Korean firms; and the Singapore Defense Science and Technology Research Institute discussed ways to cooperate in artificial intelligence and robotics.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between American UAV manufacturer, General Atomics and Korean companies- Huneed Technology, Wooriro and Korea Jigsaw. General Atomics plans to introduce components made by South Korean companies into all of its future UAV projects. In another cooperation project, French company, Thales plans to conduct joint research on sonar and sonobuoy with South Korean company, Sonatech.

All new R & D projects:

South Korea is seeking to create all-new defense products based on government-funded R & D. In an October 12 announcement, DAPA invited bids from local companies for an Hydrogen-powered light tactical vehicle and a 105mm self- propelled howitzer with a combined budget of 479 Billion Won (US$ 337 million approx).