South Korea signs Global Hawk deal for 2017-2019 delivery

South Korea expects to receive its fleet of four RQ-4Bs by 2019. Source: USAF

Key Points

• A USD657.4 FMS deal will provide South Korea with four RQ-4B Block 30 Global Hawks
• The aircraft is the first step in the country's development of an independent ISR capability

South Korea has signed a USD657.4 million Foreign Military Sales contract for four Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Block 30 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), two spare engines, and two ground control systems, the US Department of Defense announced on 16 December.
Deliveries are to begin by 2017 and will be complete by 2019. South Korea first expressed interest in the Global Hawk in 2005 and made a formal request for aircraft in 2009.
The Block 30 Global Hawk's synthetic aperture radar will be helpful in penetrating the mist that often obscures parts of the Korean peninsula, while the system's endurance of some 35 hours and ability to operate at altitudes of 50,000 to 65,000 ft (15,240 to 19,810 m) will provide Seoul with a persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability.
South Korea has always been heavily dependent on US ISR assets for its security. The Global Hawk purchase is the first step in giving it an independent ISR capability.

ANALYSIS

Seoul is in the early stages of developing and deploying the ISR assets needed for its 'Kill Chain' system for spotting and eliminating hostile missile launches. In addition to the Global Hawk purchase, South Korea has a 'stratosphere endurance UAV design technology' programme to develop an ultra-light UAV capable of remaining aloft at altitudes of up to 50,000 m (164,000 ft) for around three days and plans to put reconnaissance satellites into space by 2021.


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