South Korea to acquire defense missiles from U.S.

Korean destroyer ships would be outfitted with new technology

The Korean government is making efforts to buy SM-2 Block IIIB missiles, manufactured by Raytheon Systems for defense purposes. The missile would be outfitted on the KDX-III Aegeis destroyers scheduled to go into use in 2008, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on Monday.

The United States Defense Department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has asked U.S. Congress to approve the sale of 42 of the missiles to South Korea. In a report filed June 26, it estimated Korea will be spending a total of 111 million USD on the SM-2 Block IIIB missiles, MK-13 vertical launchers, and related costs such as parts, training, and equipment.

Korea already carries the SM-2 Block IIIA missile on its Aegis destroyers. Therefore, the DSCA says, Korea should have no trouble accommodating the SM-2 Block IIIB.

"The IIIB has better target-seeking capabilities than the IIIA, and so has more interceptor abilities as a cruise missile," a DAPA official said.

Korea has chosen not to participate in the U.S.’s missile defense (MD) program for financial and technological reasons, as well as concerns about the security climate in the region.

The U.S. and Japan use the more advanced SM-3 missile for the MD program currently under development.