"Key Force Behind Maduro’s Capture" to Be Developed by South Korean Military [Yang Nakgyu’s Defence Club]

Over 150 Aircraft Deployed for Capture Operation
Growler Electronic Warfare Aircraft Leads Formation to Disable Air Defense Network

Among the air power deployed by the Trump administration to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, attention is focused on the Growler (EF-18) electronic warfare aircraft. Electronic warfare aircraft are strategic weapons that neutralize enemy anti-aircraft radar using electronic equipment and jamming devices. Analysts say that in this operation as well, electronic warfare aircraft played a key role by disabling Venezuela’s air defense network, thereby creating a route for special forces to be deployed.

Electronic warfare aircraft Growler (EF-18) owned by the United States.

The air power deployed in this operation, named 'Operation Absolute Resolve,' consisted of more than 150 aircraft. Aircraft took off toward Venezuela from 20 ground and maritime bases in the Western Hemisphere, including F-22s, F-35s, F-18s, and B-1 bombers. At the forefront of the operation was the Growler electronic warfare aircraft. After the electronic warfare aircraft neutralized the air defense network, troops tasked with capturing President Maduro were deployed. The helicopters carrying these troops flew at a low altitude, about 100 feet (approximately 30 meters) above the surface, to avoid detection. The ground forces deployed included Delta Force, the Army’s most elite special operations unit, and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as the 'Night Stalkers.' The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment transported Navy SEALs to Pakistan for the 2011 Osama bin Laden raid and operates helicopters such as the Chinook and Black Hawk. U.S. special forces also conducted the 'Operation Red Dawn,' which captured Manuel Noriega in Panama on December 20, 1989, and the operation that captured Saddam Hussein in Iraq on December 13, 2003.

Air Defense Network Neutralized to Deploy Forces Capturing Maduro

A notable feature of this operation was the massive deployment of air power, intended to avoid Venezuela's air defense network. Dan Kane, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated, "As air power approached Caracas, Venezuela, we neutralized Venezuela’s air defense system to secure and cover safe routes for helicopters and ground forces," adding that the operation achieved a "complete surprise effect." It appears that the U.S. military integrated space, communications, cyber forces, and various technological effects to neutralize Venezuela’s air defense network and capabilities.

Military experts assess that electronic warfare aircraft are the top priority for neutralizing enemy air defense networks. Shin Jongwoo, Secretary General of the Korea Defense and Security Forum (KODEF), stated, "While the use of advanced equipment is important to neutralize any country's air defense network, electronic warfare aircraft are the most efficient during operations."

The South Korean military has also decided to invest 1.9206 trillion won from this year through 2034 to develop electronic warfare aircraft. The final system integrator is LIG D&A (formerly LIG Nex1). During the third phase of the next-generation fighter (FX) project in 2013, the South Korean military considered Boeing's 'F-15 Silent Eagle.' Boeing offered the U.S. Navy’s EF-18 (Growler) electronic warfare aircraft as part of the negotiations. However, the aircraft selection ultimately went to Lockheed Martin’s F-35, and the introduction of electronic warfare aircraft was canceled.

South Korean Military to Develop Electronic Warfare Aircraft by 2034

The South Korean military’s interest in acquiring electronic warfare aircraft stems from North Korea’s 'spider web' air defense network. The CIA also assesses that North Korea’s air defense network density is among the highest in the world. To counter the combined South Korea-U.S. air power, North Korea has reportedly established a four-layered air defense system around Pyongyang. North Korea’s surface-to-air missiles include the SA-5 (Gammon, high altitude) with a maximum range of 260-300 km, the SA-2 (Guideline, medium to high altitude) with a maximum range of 48 km, and the SA-3 (Goa, low to medium altitude) with a maximum range of 13-35 km. North Korea is estimated to possess about 40 SA-5s, 140 SA-3s, and 180 SA-2s. In addition, it has portable surface-to-air missiles such as the SA-7 (maximum range 3.7 km) and SA-16 (4.5 km). North Korea imported these air defense weapons from Russia. These weapons gained notoriety after shooting down the U.S. U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft during the Cold War era between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Jamming Range of 250 km... Capable of Destroying North Korea’s Four-Layered Air Defense

LIG D&A believes that by integrating the technologies developed so far, it is fully capable of developing such aircraft. The military reportedly set the required operational capability (ROC) for electronic warfare aircraft jamming range at 250 km. If five to six aircraft with these capabilities are deployed in an attack formation, it is expected that North Korea’s four-layered air defense network around Pyongyang could be destroyed in an instant. The jamming range of the U.S. military’s EA-18G Growler is known to be 150 km. The South Korean military plans to produce a total of four electronic warfare aircraft through this project and deliver them to the Air Force. Two will be built as Block-1 basic models, and the remaining two are expected to be developed as Block-2 models with enhanced performance. 'Block' refers to the order of performance upgrades.