South Korea's arms procurement agency has given the green light to a multi-billion dollar plan to build new state-of-the-art destroyers and submarines,... equipped with missiles that can take out incoming ballistic missiles mid-flight.
Kim Ji-yeon reports.
Seoul's defense ministry has approved plans to build next-generation Aegis-equipped destroyers and upgraded submarines... that'll be able to intercept ballistic missiles.
South Korea's Defense Project Promotion Committee approved plans Tuesday to inject around 3-point-3-billion U.S. dollars to construct a second batch of three destroyers called Gwanggaeto the Great the third by 2028.
They'll be equipped with SM-3 missiles... designed to shoot down hostile missiles at altitudes of around 150 kilometers in the "mid-course" phase.
DAPA also approved plans to build a next-generation submarine, the Jangbogo the third... equipped with Hyunmoo-2B missiles that has a target range of more than 500 kilometers.
The plan also calls for building three 3-thousand-450-ton submarines that'll be equipped with ballistic missile launchers... and powered by lithium batteries... which would raise the speed of the submarines and double their operational duration in the water.
DAPA says contracts for all these projects... which are to be produced locally ...are scheduled to take place during the first half of this year.
The projects are aimed at preparing South Korea against conflicts in waters as well as participate in peacekeeping efforts overseas.
Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News.