Earlier this year, Naval News has reported that South Korea’s DAPA (Defense Acquisition Program Administration) officialized their intention to acquire SM-6 missiles for ROK Navy’s KDX-III Batch II guided-missile destroyers (Jeongjo the Great-class) equipped with AEGIS system. At the time, DAPA expected the total program cost to be at 770 billion Korean won or 586 million USD, but the program cost saw an increase due to an inflation on the currency rate between the Korean won and USD.
“The sales of SM-6 missiles will greatly improve the geopolitical security situation of South Korea, our major alliance in the Indo-Pacific region. This sale will eventually support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by providing our alliance a necessary protection for itself.”
DSCA press release
The deal includes up to 38 SM-6 Block I missiles, Mk. 21 VLS (Vertical Launching System) cannisters as well as supplies that are required to operate the missiles at their full strength. The primary contractor for this program will be Raytheon Missiles and Defense.
South Korea has been operating the SM-2 ship-to-air missiles on its existing KDX-III Batch I guided-missile destroyers (Sejong the Great-class), but with evolving threats from North Korea it has been seeking for more advanced and longer-range missiles to counter the threat more effectively and efficiently.
SM-6 missiles can greatly increase the ship’s ability to engage in simultaneous combat by adopting an active guidance system in which missiles directly track their targets with their own radar at a maximum range of more than 400 kilometers. Airplanes, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles can all be intercepted, and the U.S. has already decided to sell SM-6 missiles to Japan last year. The South Korean government believes that the introduction of SM-6 will enable a denser maritime air defense network, further strengthening its ability to respond to North Korean cruise and ballistic missiles.
“The proposed sales of SM-6 missiles will improve South Korea’s capabilities to counter current and future threats while further enhancing interoperability with the United States and other allies in the region” DSCA added.
The missiles, once procured after the congress’ approval, will be delivered by 2031 according to DAPA.
