[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] First Officialization of Light Aircraft Carrier... Introduction of 35-B?

Ministry of National Defense Mentions Light Aircraft Carrier for the First Time, Switching to Large Transport Ship-II Project
Analysis Suggests It Is a Strategic Move Considering the Introduction of Stealth Fighter F-35B

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The most notable point in the mid-term plan announced by the Ministry of National Defense is that the military officially announced for the first time this year the introduction of a light aircraft carrier (displacement of 30,000 tons). Regarding the background of the military's shift from the original Large Transport Ship-II project to a light aircraft carrier, some analysts suggest that it is a strategic move considering the introduction of the F-35B, a stealth fighter jet capable of vertical takeoff and landing.

If the introduction of the F-35B is promoted, there are concerns that the Air Force's additional procurement project of 20 F-35A units will be delayed. The Air Force planned to complete the procurement of 40 F-35A units by next year, then immediately procure 20 more, establishing a '60-unit F-35A system' by the mid to late 2020s. However, if the F-35B is introduced, the procurement of the F-35A will inevitably be delayed or reduced.

The joint mobile target surveillance and control aircraft project, which monitors North Korean missile bases, is also expected to gain momentum. When U.S. President Donald Trump visited Korea in November 2017, President Moon Jae-in mentioned the introduction of strategic reconnaissance assets, with the joint mobile target surveillance and control aircraft 'Joint STARS' being cited as the 'top priority' for acquisition. Joint STARS is a high-performance ground surveillance reconnaissance aircraft that detects and tracks 600 to 1,000 ground targets such as vehicles, bases, and missile launchers within a 200 to 500 km range. It can clearly observe North Korean military movements, including missile transporter-erector-launchers (TELs) and multiple rocket launchers, in the area south of the Pyongyang-Wonsan line and its rear from the airspace near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

The military has decided to introduce military reconnaissance satellites and medium-to-high altitude unmanned aerial vehicles by 2025 to focus on surveillance and reconnaissance. This is because the currently introduced Global Hawk has limitations in continuous imaging. Therefore, by securing military reconnaissance satellites, the military aims to improve imaging frequency and reduce dependence on U.S. forces.

Possession of 3,600~4,000-ton Submarines Also Mentioned... Nuclear-Powered Submarine Introduction Foreseen
Significant Reinforcement of Missile Power by Increasing Ballistic Missile Hyunmoo-4 and Cruise Missiles

The recently developed prototype of the multi-phase array (AESA) radar, which is planned to be applied to the next-generation Korean Fighter eXperimental (KF-X) project, will be installed on existing KF-16 and F-15K aircraft to upgrade their performance to 4.5-generation fighters. The domestically produced AESA radar contains about 1,088 modules, each 5 mm in size. This means it has 1,088 'eyes,' allowing it to detect and track over 1,000 targets simultaneously. Considering that the AESA radar of the U.S. F-35 consists of about 1,200 modules, it is not inferior to the radar of fifth-generation fighters.

The possession of 3,600~4,000-ton submarines was also mentioned. Functionally, this power is essentially aimed at nuclear-powered submarines. During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, the development of nuclear-powered submarines was secretly underway. However, the project was aborted after some media reports revealed related information, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) notified inspections of secret uranium enrichment experiments at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute in 2010. President Moon Jae-in's statement during a presidential candidate debate before his inauguration, saying, "It is time for our country to have nuclear-powered submarines. If elected, I will discuss revising the nuclear agreement with the U.S.," served as a signal for revival.

Missile power will also be significantly reinforced. The quantity of the 800 km-class ballistic missile Hyunmoo-4, capable of preemptive strikes, and cruise missiles will be increased, and interceptor missiles to defend against North Korean missiles will be greatly expanded. Furthermore, there are plans to accelerate the development of advanced weapons such as hypersonic missiles. The Hyunmoo-4 plays a key role in the Kill Chain that blocks North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and is also evaluated as an asymmetric strategic weapon to respond to threats from neighboring countries.

To defend against North Korean missiles, ballistic missile early warning radars and Aegis ship radars capable of detecting missiles will be additionally introduced. To build a dense Korean Air and Missile Defense system (KAMD) that intercepts North Korean missiles, additional deployments of Patriot and Cheolmae-II systems will be made. The Cheolmae-II missile, along with the Patriot missile, destroys North Korean ballistic missiles at medium-high altitudes.