MCRC with Discontinued Core Components... Severe Aging Issues

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The aging of the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) devices used by our military to distinguish between enemy and friendly forces is becoming severe, raising concerns that the surveillance system of the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) may become inadequate.

According to the military on the 9th, the aging of the Mobile Radar Control Center (MCRC) has become so severe that it is confirmed to be unable to perform its functions properly. The MCRC monitors all aircraft flying over the Korean Peninsula by linking with radars and air control devices deployed nationwide. However, as key components of the MCRC have been discontinued, normal operation is impossible, and it is not linked with the weapon systems of each military branch.

The MCRC performs the mission of distinguishing enemy, friendly, and civilian aircraft using IFF devices. It monitors whether North Korean fighter jets and military aircraft from neighboring countries violate the KADIZ and shares information with command bunkers, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, headquarters of each military branch, and the United States Forces Korea. The 1st MCRC is located at Osan US 7th Air Force Base, and the 2nd MCRC is in Daegu.

However, among the MCRC's data equipment (a total of 168 types), 114 types have been discontinued. Among communication equipment (87 types), 65 types including communication panels are also discontinued. With most of the MCRC's key components discontinued, it is uncertain whether it can be linked with the 14 types of weapon systems related to surveillance, command and control, air, and maritime systems that will be introduced to the military in the future.

The military states that it plans to carry out a performance improvement project starting next year, but there are criticisms that performance upgrades within three years are practically impossible. From next year, joint ROK-US exercises must be conducted for the transfer of wartime operational control, but if the air defense radar is inadequate, disruptions are inevitable. If the United States claims that the conditions for the transfer of wartime operational control are not met, it could also affect the transfer within the current government.

A military official said, "The MCRC can achieve indirect linkage by using dedicated radio communication systems such as Link-16 equipment, and we plan to promptly proceed with the performance improvement project starting next year."