Page 13 - SEOUL ADEX 2023 - DAY 3

Polish KAI F-50s to Get Thales Scorpion HMD

Thales has been awarded a contract by worldwide. The Scorpion is a perfect match
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to sup- HMD for the FA-50, which features a digital
ply its Scorpion Helmet Mounted Display cockpit, digital flight control system (DFCS)
(HMD) for Polish FA-50 fighters. Under the and an impressive array of precision-guided
terms of this contract, Thales will be re- weapons; it offers a modern, digital platform
sponsible for adapting, integrating, and that equips pilots with enhanced situational
qualifying the Scorpion HMD onto KAI’s awareness. The FA-50 is also well-equipped
FA-50 ‘Fighting Eagle’, as well as installing for all-weather combat operations day and
production systems, to support the Republic night.
of Korea’s FA-50 contract with Poland. “We
are excited to add the FA-50 to the long list The highly accurate Scorpion HMD features
of highly capable combat aircraft embracing full-colour symbology, zero-perceived laten-
cy, and a single display module for both day
our Scorpion HMD. For KAI we also supply and night operations – all at reduced life-cy-
rotary wing versions for their Light Armed cle costs. Motion-tracking accuracy, using
and Marine Attack helicopters,” said Jim Scorpion’s precision Hybrid Optically-based
Geraghty, Vice President, Visionix a divi- Inertial Tracker (HObIT), is also significantly
sion of Thales Defence & Security Inc. He improved over competing systems. The
continued, “Scorpion’s simplified approach Scorpion HMD is also well-suited to being
to platform integration, superior situational easily adapted onto KAI’s T-50 advanced jet
awareness, high reliability, and enhanced trainer (AJT) and TA-50 lead-in fighter trainer
pilot comfort makes this system unmatched Thales expects this contract is just the start (LIFT), as HMDs are becoming integral to
in the HMD marketspace.” as the FA-50 is made available to customers most current and future combat aircraft.
Hanwha Proposes Next-generation IFV for

South Korea’s Army

By Gordon Arthur has its sights set on the so-called new-gen- Propulsion will come via a diesel-electric
eration K-NIFV, with official development hybrid unit. Also integrated in the design will
Even though Hanwha continues production set to commence next year and the whole be a UAV that is operated from within the
of the K21 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) project likely to take about 6-7 years. armoured vehicle. The core crew will com-
for the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA), prise three personnel, but it is unclear how
the conglomerate has already turned its This K-NIFV weighing around 45 tonnes will many dismounts will be accommodated.
attention to a next-generation replacement. feature a 40mm CTA cannon and antitank
missiles in an optionally manned/unmanned Hanwha Aerospace also has other K21-
Despite trialling the AS21 Redback ordered turret. It will also have an active protection based vehicles in the pipeline. First off
by the Australian Army, the ROKA decided system and a remote-controlled weapon the rank is a rubber-tracked K-CEV combat
against that particular platform. Instead, it station on the turret top. engineer vehicle. This is based on the K21
but with numerous improvements, including
an upgraded steel hull with STANAG Level
6 protection front and sides, and Level 3
mine protection.
The K-CEV is slated to be ready by the end of
2025, after which it will undergo six months
of trials and then eventually enter ROKA
service. It will carry a tracked explosive ord-
nance disposal robot capable of detecting
mines thanks to a ground penetrating radar.
Development of this 1.5m-long robot was
completed in August, and series production
will commence in 2025.

Army combat engineers in armoured divi-
sions possess the K600 CEV, but infantry
divisions have no protected way of clear-
ing minefields. Thus, also proposed in the
same family is a mine-clearing version that
carries twin line charges, a mine plough or
dozer blade.
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