'Korean Air VS KAI' Electronic Warfare Equipment Contract Battle [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

1.92 Trillion KRW to Be Invested for Development by 2034
Bidding Announcement in May, Contract Expected Within This Year

Korean Air and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) have officially entered the bidding competition for the development project of an electronic warfare aircraft. An electronic warfare aircraft is a strategic weapon that uses electronic equipment and jamming devices to neutralize enemy air defense radars. Developing such an aircraft would mean possessing technology currently held only by advanced countries, making this a matter of pride between the aviation defense industries.

According to the government on the 17th, “It has been decided to invest 1.9206 trillion KRW from next year until 2034 to develop the electronic warfare aircraft,” and “a bidding announcement will be made in May, with contracts expected to be signed within this year.”

▲Why develop an electronic warfare aircraft? Fighter jets face threats from air defense networks when penetrating enemy territory. These air defense networks track fighter jets using air defense radars, but electronic warfare aircraft penetrate enemy lines ahead of fighters to neutralize these radars. Our military reviewed Boeing’s ‘F-15 Silent Eagle’ during the third phase of the next-generation fighter (FX) project in 2013. Boeing negotiated to provide the U.S. Navy’s EF-18 (Growler) electronic warfare aircraft. However, the introduction of electronic warfare aircraft was canceled when the F-35 from Lockheed Martin was selected as the model.

The military’s eagerness to acquire electronic warfare aircraft stems from North Korea’s “spider web air defense network.” The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) also evaluates North Korea’s air defense density as among the highest in the world. North Korea is known to have established a four-layered air defense system around Pyongyang to block South Korea-U.S. combined air power. North Korea’s surface-to-air missiles include the SA-5 (Gammon, high altitude) with a maximum range of 260?300 km, the SA-2 (Guideline, medium to high altitude) with a maximum range of 48 km, and the SA-3 (Goa, low to medium altitude) with a maximum range of 13?35 km. It is estimated that North Korea possesses about 40 SA-5 units, 140 SA-3 units, and 180 SA-2 units. Additionally, it holds portable surface-to-air missiles such as the SA-7 (maximum range 3.7 km) and SA-16 (4.5 km). North Korea’s air defense weapons were imported from Russia. These weapons gained fame during the U.S.-Soviet Cold War by shooting down the U.S. high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft ‘U-2’ that was spying on Soviet territory.

▲The aircraft, which accounts for half of the project budget The electronic warfare aircraft project is divided into the aircraft and electronic warfare equipment. Defense companies responsible for importing and modifying the aircraft from overseas are Korean Air and KAI. Both companies plan to decide on the aircraft model before the May bidding. Business jets are the leading candidates. Business jets can operate at higher altitudes for longer durations than propeller planes. Advanced countries also use business jets as platforms for electronic warfare aircraft. The U.S. replaced all EC-130H electronic warfare aircraft, which were based on C-130 transport planes, with G550 business jets. This reduced the weight of electronic warfare equipment from 8.1 tons to 3.6 tons, thereby increasing operational capability and duration. The U.S. Navy currently operates the EA-18G Growler, which is an F-18 fighter jet modified into an electronic warfare aircraft.

China also equipped electronic warfare equipment on the Y-9 transport aircraft to create the Y-9G electronic warfare aircraft. However, at the Zhuhai Airshow in October 2021, China unveiled the J-16D, which replaced the aircraft with a fighter jet. The J-16D is based on the existing J-16 fighter jet but adds electronic reconnaissance, communication jamming, and radar jamming devices, giving it electronic warfare attack capabilities.

The aircraft that Korean Air and KAI are closely considering include the U.S. Gulfstream G550, Brazil’s Embraer E190-E2, and France’s Dassault Falcon 2000LXS. The Gulfstream G550 has the advantage of proven performance, as it is used by the Israeli military for platforms such as the Eitam early warning and control aircraft. The Falcon 2000LXS is used in our military’s Baekdu reconnaissance aircraft, allowing for shared components and efficient subsequent logistics support. The E190-E2 offers more internal space than other aircraft, allowing for additional equipment and ensuring rest for crew members fatigued by long flight times.

▲Defense companies developing electronic warfare equipment LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Systems are competing to develop electronic warfare equipment. LIG Nex1 was responsible for the newly operational Baekdu reconnaissance aircraft project. They developed communication intelligence (COMINT), electronic intelligence (ELINT), and instrument intelligence (FISINT) functions, which include flame detection capabilities to determine actual missile launches. They have produced the ALQ-200 electronic warfare equipment for aircraft and have experience delivering integrated electronic warfare systems mounted on the KF-21 fighter jet. The company claims to possess electronic warfare aircraft technology ranked within the world’s top five.

Electronic warfare collects and analyzes enemy radio frequencies to determine attack targets. To collect frequencies, information-gathering capabilities are necessary. To share information in real time, data links and equipment to protect the aircraft must be installed. LIG Nex1 believes it can develop the system sufficiently by integrating the technologies of the equipment it has developed so far. The military is expected to set the performance requirement condition (ROC) for the jamming range of the electronic warfare aircraft at 250 km. If 5 to 6 electronic warfare aircraft with such performance are deployed as an attack squadron, it is believed they can instantly destroy North Korea’s four-layered air defense network around Pyongyang. The jamming range of the U.S. military’s EA-18G Growler is known to be 150 km.

The military plans to produce a total of four electronic warfare aircraft through this project and deliver them to the Air Force. Two will be made as Block-1 basic models, and the remaining two are expected to be developed as Block-2 models with improved performance. “Block” refers to the order of performance upgrades. However, although the companies responsible for the aircraft and those in charge of electronic warfare equipment are supposed to form a consortium for the project, they are still in a waiting game. Industry insiders predict that Korean Air will partner with LIG Nex1, and KAI will team up with Hanwha Systems.

Korean Air expresses confidence, stating, “We have experience producing special mission aircraft such as the second phase of the airborne control aircraft project.” On the other hand, KAI emphasizes that it is the only domestic aircraft platform company and counters with its expertise in modifying and developing special mission aircraft.