Seoul: South Korea has finalized a plan to acquire U.S. Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) shipborne missile interceptors for deployment by 2034, aiming to enhance its missile defense capabilities, as announced by the state arms procurement agency.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Defense Project Promotion Committee, a decision-making body under the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), has approved a 530 billion-won (US$351.5 million) project to procure the SM-6 long-range ship-to-air missile interceptors and associated equipment. The SM-6 interceptor, designed for warships, can track and neutralize a variety of incoming threats with a maximum range of 460 kilometers and an altitude capability of up to 36 km.
The military plans to equip the 8,200-ton Aegis destroyer ROKS Dasan Jeong Yakyong, expected to enter service later this year, along with the ROKS Daeho Kim Jong Seo, with the SM-6 interceptors. These interceptors will also be installed on the already-deployed ROKS Jeongjo the Great through future capability upgrades. "The project is expected to enhance ship-to-air defense capabilities of Aegis destroyers against enemy anti-ship ballistic missiles, aircraft, and cruise missiles, as well as improve their anti-ballistic missile defense," stated DAPA.
In a previous development, the United States approved a $650 million sale of up to 38 SM-6 missiles and related equipment to South Korea through the Foreign Military Sales program in November 2023. The latest announcement indicates a potential scaling back of the acquisition from the earlier plan, with the timeline revised to 2023-34 from the original 2023-31 schedule. A DAPA official noted, "The negotiation process took time even though we have been pushing ahead with the project since 2023. The system will be rolled out in stages in accordance with the schedule agreed upon with the U.S. side."
Additionally, the committee approved a research and development plan for a new military communications satellite system to replace older equipment. This plan involves developing a dedicated geostationary military communications satellite and related ground infrastructure through an R and D program led by the Agency for Defense Development. The project, estimated to cost about 1.27 trillion won, will run through 2032, with a contract agreement expected with a prototype developer by March next year.