[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] 5,000 Precision Strike Weapons to Be Imported for Kim Jong-un's Command Post

'Korean GPS Guided Bomb (KGGB)' developed by LIG Nex1

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] Our military plans to directly purchase 5,000 guided kits overseas that use laser and the Global Positioning System (GPS) for precision strikes. The guided kit is a device that can be mounted on 2,000-pound class missiles to precisely strike targets. It is evaluated as an optimal weapon system capable of simultaneously neutralizing North Korea’s command headquarters, including Kim Jong-un, as well as tunnel artillery and multiple rocket launchers in North Korean territory in case of emergency.

According to military officials on the 31st, "The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has decided to proceed with the 4th phase of the GPS guided bomb project from this year until 2027, with a budget of 470 billion KRW, which includes guided kits, fragmentation warheads (MK84), penetrator warheads (BLU-109), and fuzes."

DAPA held a project briefing session on April 28 and plans to receive proposals until May 3. It is known that American companies Boeing and Raytheon attended the briefing session.

The guided bomb promoted by Boeing is the precision-guided bomb JDAM (GBU-31). JDAM is a precision-guided bomb that transforms conventional bombs into smart weapons by attaching guidance kits and wing kits. It uses GPS and INS (Inertial Navigation System) guidance methods, enabling precise bombing day and night. Compared to other precision-guided bombs, it is inexpensive (about 70 million KRW), unaffected by weather conditions, and can autonomously find targets without direct aiming. Its margin of error is 13 meters, and the bomb weighs 2,000 pounds (approximately 0.9 tons). Our Air Force already equips the advanced guided weapon JDAM on the KF-16 fighter jets, which are one of the Air Force’s main aircraft alongside the F-15K.

Raytheon is expected to present the GBU-50 Paveway II. The GBU-50 Paveway II is a precision-guided bomb equipped with laser and GPS guidance systems, mounted on 2,000-pound class bombs such as the Mk 84 or BLU-109. The MK-84 bomb, containing 428 kg of high explosives in its warhead, is used to destroy underground bunkers where North Korean war command centers are located. When the MK-84 is dropped from an aircraft and explodes on the ground, it creates a crater approximately 13 meters in diameter and 3.6 meters deep, demonstrating significant destructive power.

The BLU-109 penetrator bomb, known as a bunker buster, can penetrate 1.8 meters of concrete and is used to destroy key enemy underground facilities. When equipped with a guidance kit, it can be converted into precision-guided bombs such as JDAM and laser-guided bombs.

Our military deployed over 1,200 units of the domestically developed Korean GPS Guided Bomb (KGGB) in 2018. The KGGB is a precision-guided weapon equipped with GPS guidance devices and glider wings.

When dropped from fighter jets, it glides toward the pre-programmed target but has the capability to change targets or maneuver during flight depending on the situation. It can precisely strike North Korean artillery and multiple rocket launchers concealed in hills, mountains, tunnels, or tunnels from long distances or from behind. The Korean GPS Guided Bomb was first independently developed by our military in December 2012 under the supervision of the Agency for Defense Development. However, at the time of development, the U.S. government did not approve the export of military GPS, so commercial GPS was applied for development.

This weapon system was developed by attaching a mid-range GPS guidance kit (GPS guidance device and glider wings) to conventional bombs (MK-82) possessed by our military, creating a smart bomb capable of precision guidance. It has inertial navigation and GPS navigation guidance functions, allowing it to fly along a preset route to strike targets and also has the capability to attack North Korean targets from the rear.