South Korea has signed an agreement with a local defense firm to supply laser designators for the country’s fighter aircraft.
Valued at 86.7-billion Korean won ($66.5 million), the contract requires Gyeonggi-based Hancom Lifecare Inc. to design a device that can designate a hostile target to aid precision strike missions.
The ground-based equipment must be able to help South Korean fighter jets avoid erroneous targeting while also enhancing their survivability.
The company will collaborate with foreign firms L3Harris and Leonardo DRS to complete the contract.
The country’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) did not disclose the target date for the fielding of the laser designators.
Supporting Local Production
Laser target designators are used to provide precise targeting information to laser-guided bombs or missiles.
Usually handheld or mounted on a tripod, the equipment emits a laser beam that can be detected by aircraft or weapon systems for accurate and effective engagement.
DAPA said the South Korean military has been relying on foreign-made laser designators to support its precision strike operations.
But with the new contract, a total of 16 local subcontractors will come together, establishing a local supply chain for the state-of-the-art equipment.
“Through the project, the military will be able to secure a key asset of the country’s three-axis system,” a DAPA official explained, referring to the country’s key deterrence system.
