[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Training Maritime Patrol Aircraft Pilots to Target North Korean Submarines

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] The Navy is set to train veteran pilots for the maritime patrol aircraft (P-3) tasked with targeting North Korean submarines. This move comes as there has been a severe shortage of field-grade officer pilots, and with additional state-of-the-art P-3s being deployed, experienced pilots are urgently needed.

The P-3 is a core asset in anti-submarine warfare, capable of moving swiftly across the sea and detecting submarines over a wide range. Especially with North Korea’s next provocations, such as the potential launch of new submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), veteran pilots have been in critically short supply.

According to the military, 77 officers have been assigned as P-3 pilots in the Navy up to last year. Considering the number of P-3s and shift rotations, the Navy estimates that 64 pilots would be sufficient. The issue lies in proficiency. Among the 77 officers, captains make up the majority with 71, followed by lieutenants with 6.

As of the end of last year, there was only one field-grade officer pilot at the major rank: Major Lee Ju-yeon of the 6th Air Wing, who was promoted from captain to major in September last year. Major Lee was also the first female P-3 pilot selected by the Navy in 2010. However, she went to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Texas. She is expected to return next year.

The P-3 is a type of aircraft that flies for over six hours once airborne, with a high proportion of night and low-altitude flights, which demand significant physical endurance and intense concentration. Additionally, since a crew of about ten members operates as a team, precise understanding and operation of the aircraft’s equipment and strong teamwork are crucial. This means pilot training is equally challenging.

However, most pilots selected for the P-3 reportedly give up promotion after accumulating flight hours and move to civilian airlines, which offer relatively better conditions. Since the P-3 operates similarly to civilian aircraft, it is easier for its pilots to transition to commercial airlines compared to other aircraft types. This has led to calls for a more robust P-3 pilot training program.

The Navy currently operates 16 P-3 aircraft. Additionally, it has decided to introduce more maritime patrol aircraft, specifically the 'Poseidon' (P-8A), a military-modified version of the civilian Boeing 737. The military plans to acquire and operate several maritime patrol aircraft from 2022 through early 2023. Equipped with the multifunction surveillance radar 'AN/APY-10,' the Poseidon can reach a top speed of 907 km/h, has a cruising range of 7,500 km, an operational radius of about 2,200 km, and can be armed with Harpoon missiles and torpedoes.

To cultivate veteran pilots, the Navy plans to increase the annual training intake from 12 to 17 and restrict the discharge of pilots with five years of service. In particular, it will significantly raise flight allowances for pilots. For fixed-wing field-grade pilots, the monthly flight allowance will increase from 890,000 KRW to 930,000 KRW starting in 2024, and for rotary-wing field-grade pilots, the monthly allowance will rise from 730,000 KRW to 880,000 KRW starting this year.

The military plans to extend pilots’ mandatory service periods to train 8 to 9 pilots annually. If the plan proceeds as scheduled, the number of major-ranked pilots is expected to increase each year starting next year, reaching up to 11 by 2015.

A military official said, “It has been true that experienced P-3 pilots were lacking, but through the training program, the number of field-grade officers is expected to increase significantly from next year,” adding, “With additional P-3s, we will be able to closely track North Korean submarines.”