Korea Replaces Foreign-made Tactical Navigation Equipment with Domestic Systems

South KoreanDAPA has replaced all outdated foreign-made Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) systems with modern domestically produced equipment.

TACAN is critical military navigation technology that provides precise location and directional information to aircraft, enabling them to navigate toward specific points by determining distance and direction from a transmitter.

The TACAN modernization initiative, launched in 2019 with a total investment of 30.7 billion won, involved the installation of fixed-type tactical navigation systems developed by the Korea Airports Corporation across all Air Force bases.

The project concluded in 2024 with the deployment of the 13th unit at Gangneung Air Base.

Jeong Gyu-heon, Director of the Space Command and Communications Business Division at DAPA, stated, “The completion of this domestically produced tactical navigation equipment will significantly enhance the Air Force’s operational capabilities and stability. The government remains committed to supporting the continued development of TACAN systems and expanding export opportunities.”

The new TACAN systems use advanced technology, meet strict military standards, and feature visual and auditory alarms for improved maintenance and reliability.

With the shift to 100% domestically produced TACAN systems, South Korea has achieved full self-reliance in operation and maintenance, ensuring uninterrupted 24/7 air operations without dependence on foreign suppliers.

The Korea Airports Corporation exported TACAN systems worth 21 billion won to India in 2021 and developed a ship-mounted mobile TACAN in 2024, with DAPA supporting these efforts by facilitating frequency acquisition and reducing development costs and timelines in collaboration with the Air Force.