South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has awarded Hanwha Defense a KRW250 billion (USD207.6 million) contract to mass-produce a recently developed 30 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) system based on the chassis of the Hyundai Rotem K808 8×8 armoured vehicle.
South Korea’s DAPA has awarded Hanwha Defense a KRW250 billion (USD207.6 million) contract to mass-produce a new 30 mm SPAAG) system based on the chassis of the K808 8×8 armoured vehicle. (DAPA)
In a 27 June statement DAPA said that the short-range air-defence system is intended to gradually replace the ageing 20 mm M167 Vulcan Air Defense Systems (VADSs) still in service with the South Korean military.
No details were provided as to how many units were ordered but the new SPAAG system is expected to enter service from 2021.
Developed by Hanwha between 2015 and 2019 as part of a KRW55 billion project, the turret mounted on the vehicle is armed with a pair of stabilised and podded 30 mm autocannons, and features an electro-optical/infrared system enabling automatic day/night target tracking.
The new SPAAG system has been designed to increase South Korea’s capability to engage aerial targets at low altitudes and to provide mobile and localised air-defence support for ground troops.
The DAPA noted that the new system is not only more accurate but its range of over 3 km is also 1.6-times greater than that of the M167 VADS, which has a maximum range of 2.2 km, according to Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence .
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