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South Korea thus prioritises the acquisition of
locally developed and manufactured defence
articles.

South Korea allocated US$47.712 billion or 13
per cent of its government spending to its 2022
defence budget. This was a US$1.547 billion or
3.4 p percent increase compared to the previ-
ous year. The 2022 defence budget contained
US$33.129 billion for force operations which
includes expenditure for military logistics, facil-
ities, and education and training of military
forces.

Another US$14.582 billion was dedicated to
force enhancement, an expenditure used for
securing advanced weapon systems to enhance
and maintain defence capabilities in prepara-
Early this year, KAI finalised a contract to supply Malaysia with eigh- tion of all kinds of possible security threats.
teen FA-50 light fighters. The FA-50, a multi-role aircraft modelled
after the T-50 Golden Eagle advanced trainer aircraft, underscores Compared to the previous year, the Defense
KAI’s expanding global footprint in the aerospace industry. With this Ministry has proposed to raise expenditures by
export deal, the total exports of KAI’s domestically produced KT-1 around 17 per cent to advance the development
and T-50 series aircraft may reach approximately 240 units globally.
of an indigenous three-axis defence system.

The next goal of the nation’s sole jet maker this year is to win the
preferred bidder status for Egypt’s project to locally produce the The total defence spending is estimated at
jet trainers and lightweight fighters in collaboration with a foreign approximately 59.6 trillion won (US$45.1 billion),
company, KAI CEO Kang Gu-young said. a 4.5 per cent increase from last year, according
to the ministry.

It will be KAI’s first foray into Africa’s military aircraft market if it An estimated 41.8 trillion won is earmarked for
wins the contract to export more than 100 T-50 trainer aircraft to expenditures related to force operations and
Egypt. “Egypt’s strategic geographic location (between maintenance, reflecting a 4.2 percent on-year
the northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia) would increase. The allocation encompasses costs
then open many other doors of opportunity,” Kang opined. associated with operating and sustaining mil-
itary equipment and facilities, as well as other
outlays like personnel salaries, benefits, training
KAI’s ultimate objective is to export its aircraft to the United States, and education.
a market for the world’s greatest fighter aircraft makers. That would
elevate KAI’s status and provide momentum for its next vision of
becoming a key player in the international aerospace industry, During the past five years, South Korea’s defence
Kang added. Nevertheless, South Korea continues to be the United budget has been growing at an average rate of
States’ third largest country for arms exports after Saudi Arabia and 6.3 per cent per year.
Australia based on the total export volume from 2009 to 2021, thus
a substantial market for U.S. defence contractors. In particular, the budget for force enhance-
ment reflects a total of 32 key weapon system
Force Modernisation programmes including the light aircraft carrier
programme, microsatellite programme, low-al-
To complement its national defence strategy, South Korea has been titude missile defence (LAMD) interception
pursuing force modernisation programmes for some years, and the system, mass production of light armed heli-
most updated programme is known as Defense Reform 2.0. One of copters (LAH), F-35A performance improvement
the goals of the programme is to build an effective and capable programme, and large-sized transport aircraft
force that is able to meet emerging security threats while limit- programme.
ing reliance on foreign defence technology. It also encourages the
development of homegrown technology, as well as the local produc- South Korea’s acquisition of weapons systems
tion of weapons systems both in the form of parts or components, from overseas are administered through foreign
and complete systems.
ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 | 31