South Korea’s ministry of national defence has requested an 18% increase in its modernisation budget for 2006 to help fund the launch of several programmes. The ministry plans to spend 23.3 trillion won ($22.5 billion) next year, including 8.3 trillion won for investment and modernisation. Seoul’s 2005 defence budget totals 20.8 trillion won, including 7 trillion won for modernisation.
If approved by the national administration and legislature, the budget will fund new programmes for surface-to-air missiles and fighter aircraft electronic jammers, and the development of an indigenous medium-altitude unmanned air vehicle.
The 8.3 trillion won force improvement plan for 2006 includes 44 billion won to upgrade inventory equipment, 25 billion won for electronic-warfare programmes and 24 billion won for weapon system research and development activities. The last of these will cover the UAV project, a combat system for new fighters and a low-altitude radar.
Programmes to receive continued funding under the budget proposal include Boeing F-15K fighters, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50 trainers, Sikorsky S-92 VIP helicopters, ex-US Navy Lockheed Martin P-3 maritime patrol aircraft to be refurbished by KAI and L-3 Communications, and four airborne early warning and control aircraft to be selected this year.
Last May the defence ministry unveiled a new five-year budget proposal that envisions steady annual increases to fund a raft of new procurements (Flight International, 31 May–6 June).
Over recent years, South Korea has funded only marginal budget increases, but a more significant rise is expected to be approved for 2006 to enable it to improve its capabilities ahead of a planned reduction in US troop and equipment levels in the country.
BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
