As domestic defense companies have been allowed to possess weapons themselves, they are speeding up the development of weapon systems for export. Hanwha Aerospace is modifying and testing an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) it produced for R&D purposes, while Hyundai Rotem has embarked on modification, development, and performance testing using the K2 tank. Defense companies had not been allowed to possess weapons until now. Since July, they have been able to possess weapons themselves for promotion and research and development (R&D) purposes.
According to the defense industry on the 8th, Hanwha Aerospace has been producing its IFV "Redback" since November and conducting research and development. The Redback is an IFV that Hanwha Aerospace developed based on the K21 infantry fighting vehicle for export to Australia.
Because IFVs operate in countries with different terrain characteristics, the required operational capability (ROC) also varies by country. Some areas require adding different parts or developing new technologies. The plan is to use the Redback produced this time to secure technologies that meet each country's ROC.
Hanwha Aerospace became able to possess the Redback itself thanks to an amendment to the Defense Acquisition Program Act passed on July 4. Until now, defense companies had to produce weapon systems in line with delivery schedules and could not possess weapons even for purposes such as research and development.
Because of this, when defense companies wanted to participate in overseas defense exhibitions, they had to pay a lending fee to borrow from the military authorities or display maintenance substitute equipment or mock-ups. Maintenance substitute equipment refers to spare equipment provided so it can be used in place of equipment that has been taken in for maintenance during the maintenance period.
There were cases where the lack of equipment held by companies hindered exports. In May last year, Iraq, during negotiations with Korea to introduce eight batteries of the medium-range surface-to-air missile Cheongung II, asked whether three batteries could be sent quickly first.
However, at the time, Cheongung II was being fielded by the military, so not even one battery could be sent. A defense industry official said, "There was a request to send quantities secured for research purposes, saying those would be fine, but we could not comply, which delayed the negotiations," adding, "Now that companies will have their own equipment, it will be effective for exports."
In addition to the Redback, Hanwha Aerospace, which also produced the K9A1 self-propelled howitzer and the K9A2 self-propelled howitzer, is developing fully automated turret technology that loads and fires without human assistance. Starting with the upgraded K9A3 version of the K9A2 self-propelled howitzer, the goal is unmanned operation. Hanwha Aerospace is participating in the U.S. Army's self-propelled howitzer procurement program with the wheeled self-propelled howitzer K9A2 at the forefront. The K9A2 self-propelled howitzer produced this time is expected to be used for technology development and the U.S. program.
Hyundai Rotem also plans to produce a K2 tank for research and development purposes. Currently, it is developing an export version using tanks lent by institutions such as the Korea Research Institute for defense Technology planning and advancement (KRIT), but there were inevitably differences between the lent tanks and the actual products. Some lending fees are also incurred. A Hyundai Rotem official said, "We will produce K2 tanks for the purpose of modification and development in order to propose performance suitable for the importing country."
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has so far used prototypes (aircraft produced for performance testing) for overseas exhibitions and research and development. Rather than newly producing helicopters or fighter jets for research and development, KAI plans to produce and utilize unmanned aerial vehicles for research and development.
The need to possess is small for fighter jets and the like because government-owned prototypes are already being used, but unmanned aerial vehicles are different. Development and test flights of armed unmanned aerial vehicles have become possible, and they can now be taken to overseas exhibitions.
A KAI official said, "We plan to accelerate the development of next-generation defense materials based on the equipment we now possess ourselves."