Big Tech Succeeds in Localizing Submarine Electronic Warfare Equipment... Begins First Mass Production

Sequential Replacement Starting with Type 209 Submarines
Localization Delivers Savings in Foreign Currency and MRO

Domestically developed electronic warfare equipment will be installed on submarines operated by the Navy. With the successful localization of electronic warfare equipment by the domestic defense SME Victek, performance upgrades are expected to be sequentially applied starting with the third vessel of the Type 209 (1,200-ton) submarine class, the Choi Museon.

Jangbogo-class (Type 209) submarine. The Jangbogo-class submarine is a domestically licensed production of the German Navy's Type 209, with nine vessels currently constructed. It is a 1,200-ton diesel submarine known for its excellent quietness and is capable of launching torpedoes, mines, and Harpoon missiles.

On December 11, Victek announced that it would hold a rollout ceremony for the first electronic warfare system for the Type 209 submarine at its electronic warfare test site in Icheon. The submarine electronic warfare equipment is an electronic support (ES) system that receives and analyzes threat signals emitted from the radars of enemy aircraft and warships. It requires watertight radome technology to protect antennas in the underwater environment of submarines.

Until now, Korean submarines had been equipped with equipment developed by Argos of the United States since the 1990s. However, when Argos went bankrupt due to management difficulties, operational challenges arose. Maintenance and repairs were delayed in the event of equipment failure, and follow-up logistical support became limited.

In December 2024, Victek signed a contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration worth 38.724 billion KRW for the supply of submarine electronic warfare equipment (BLQ-100K). With the successful localization of electronic warfare equipment, all six out of the nine Type 209 submarines currently in service are scheduled to have their electronic warfare systems replaced. The Argos electronic warfare equipment was known to cost 6.1 billion KRW per unit. In contrast, Victek's equipment costs only 80% of that amount, resulting in significant foreign currency savings.

Having succeeded in localizing electronic warfare equipment for the Type 209 submarine, Victek is now challenging the localization of such equipment for the Type 214 submarine (KSS-II) as well. The company expects that timely logistical support will not only maximize operational capability but also greatly enhance the ability to respond to new threat signals. Furthermore, the developed technology is expected to be applicable to the localization of electronic warfare systems for next-generation submarines (KSS-III) in the future.

Victek CEO Lim Mangyu stated, "As a company specializing in electronic warfare, we will successfully carry out this project and contribute to achieving national defense self-reliance," adding, "We will do our utmost to expand and apply similar electronic warfare equipment to the aviation and civilian sectors, as well as to export models."

Meanwhile, Victek is an electronic warfare equipment developer that quickly detects and alerts against electromagnetic signals emitted by enemy radars and various missiles. The company has localized three key components: digital frequency discriminator (DFD), log video amplifier (DLVA), and radome. By expanding the signal detection range and significantly reducing both weight and size, Victek has managed to lower the price by about 30% compared to Swedish equipment. An open architecture has been adopted to enable easy performance upgrades, and the system was standardized and designated as a defense item in 2014.