South Korea has deployed a new homegrown radar guidance system to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) to replace those that have been in use at military airports for more than three decades, the South Korea’s state Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said Friday. The armed service has recently received the precision approach radar (PAR) systems used by air traffic controllers to give navigational guidance to pilots for landing. The guidance system will be useful when the aircraft faces difficulties flying toward a runway due to adverse weather conditions or an instrument landing system failure.
In 2012, DAPA and the South Korean defense firm LIG Nex1 jointly invested 20 billion won ($15.74 million) to develop the new radar system. Its development was completed in 2017. DAPA said it plans to continue its push to indigenously develop other military radar systems so as to help strengthen the nation’s overall defense capabilities. The radar is designed to enable safe landing of aircraft in high-risk operational scenarios, including adverse weather conditions. PAR was installed at the 1st Fighter Wing in Gwangju air base in March, 2019. DAPA expects to deploy the radar at other key military airports in a phased manner by 2023.
According to LIG Nex1, the precision approach radar (PAR) systems guides pilots in the final approach phase of aircraft to the airport using traffic information provided by an air traffic controller. Pilots can leverage the guidance system to navigate the aircraft along the glide-path toward the touchpoint for a safe landing. The systems fielded this year are the first batch of mass-produced precision approach radars. LIG Nex1 also selected Leonardo as a strategic technology partner to work jointly to address Korea’s requirement to upgrade its airborne identification friend or foe equipment.
LIG Nex1 Co., Ltd. (formerly known as NEX1 Future and LG Innotek) is a South Korean aerospace manufacturer and defense company. It was established in 1976 as Goldstar Precision. It develops and produces a wide range of advanced precision electronic systems, including missile, underwater weapon systems, radars, electronic warfare, avionics, tactical communication systems, fire control systems, naval combat systems, and electro-optics. It is one of the major suppliers of weapon systems for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, as well as an international exporter of weapon systems.
