US approves E-7A sale to South Korea

The US has approved possible sale of four Boeing E-7A Wedgetail (pictured) airborne early warning and control aircraft to South Korea. (Boeing)

The US Department of State has approved the possible sale of Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to South Korea under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

Under the proposed sale, which has an estimated value of USD4.92 billion, South Korea is expected to receive four Wedgetails along with associated sensors, and communications and logistics equipment, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 4 November.

“This proposed sale will improve [South Korea's] ability to meet current and future threats by providing increased intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and [AEW&C] capabilities,” the DSCA said.

“It will also increase the RoK Air Force's (RoKAF's) command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) interoperability with the US,” the DSCA added.

The DSCA said that in addition to the four Wedgetails, South Korea has requested procurement of 10 CFM56 jet engines including eight installed, and two spares; seven Guardian Laser Transmitter Assemblies (GLTAs) including four installed, and three spares; and eight BAE Systems AN/AAR-57s; and Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ 24(V)N directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCMs) systems including four installed and four spares.

South Korea also requires 10 embedded GPS/inertial navigation systems with selective availability anti-spoofing module (SAASM) including eight installed, and two spares; six Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS JTRSs) with Tactical Targeting Network Technology including four installed, and two spares; Collins Aerospace AN/ARC-210 radios; digital radar warning receivers; and BAE Systems AN/ALE-47 electronic countermeasure dispensers.