[2020 National Audit] Officialization of 40,000-ton Light Aircraft Carrier

The Dokdo ship fired one RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) east of Pohang and shot down an enemy aircraft air defense target drone. (Photo by the Navy)

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Navy has decided to commission a light aircraft carrier that will serve as a "military base on the sea" by 2033.

On the 15th, during the National Defense Committee's audit report on the Navy Headquarters and Marine Corps Command held at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong City, Chungnam Province, the Navy announced, "A total of 2 trillion won will be invested to introduce the light aircraft carrier, and the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) is leading the power requirement verification process."

The Navy officially set the light aircraft carrier's full load displacement (including all ship weights) at 40,000 tons. It is known that it will be equipped with about 20 vertical takeoff and landing fighters, as well as defensive weapons such as anti-ship guided missiles, defense missiles, and torpedo countermeasure systems.

The Navy also stated, "We will permanently deploy superior forces near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) and operate them flexibly," adding, "We will strengthen surveillance and maintain a response posture to prepare for provocations by North Korean patrol boats and fishing vessels violating the NLL in the West Sea."

Meanwhile, the Marine Corps Command announced that to prepare for future all-direction security threats, it will "build an air-ground mobile marine corps capable of performing various missions such as three-dimensional rapid amphibious operations, quick response operations, and strategic island defense."

Regarding Ulleungdo, plans include company-level rotational training and the establishment of a mid- to long-term Ulleung unit, as well as securing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for northwestern islands and division reconnaissance purposes.

Regarding the defector crossing incident that occurred in the Han River estuary last July, the Marine Corps reported that follow-up measures such as organizing surveillance equipment operators and reinforcing high-value outposts have been implemented. The incident occurred at Wolmigot, Ganghwa Island, Incheon, and the military had dismissed the commander of the 2nd Marine Division at that time.