Conceptual image of long-range radar operation / Courtesy of Defense Acquisition Program Administration

A Korean-developed long-range radar has successfully secured a combat suitability certification, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said Monday.

The state-run arms agency explained that the domestically developed radar is a critical component of the country's air defense system, as it is responsible for detecting and tracking aircraft within the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) 24 hours a day, all year around. The radar system transmits captured data in real time to the Republic of Korea (ROK) Air Force's Master Control and Reporting Center, ensuring prompt air defense operations.

The new long-range radar received combat suitability certification, following periods of design research, prototype production and an additional year and a half of testing and evaluation. This process began after DAPA signed a system development contract with LIG Nex1 in February 2021.

"The new long-range radar has been confirmed to meet the Air Force's performance requirements and has demonstrated world-class capabilities in detection range, probability, as well as accuracy," a DAPA official said.

With the research and development phase completed for the long-range radar, South Korea has become one of the few countries in the world capable of independently designing and producing long-range radars.

Currently, only a small number of countries, including the U.S., France, Italy and Spain, possess the advanced capability to produce radars using their own domestic technologies. This R&D effort has also secured various other essential technologies related to radar production and operation, such as large antenna design and manufacturing, heat dissipation technology and the optimization of signal concentration.

DAPA plans to kickstart mass production of the long-range radars in 2026, aiming to replace outdated radars with new ones. The current long-range radars operated by the ROK Air Force are U.S.-made equipment introduced prior to the 1990s, and they have become severely outdated.

Seok Jong-gun, right, minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, shakes hands with Walter Astudillo, Peru's defense minister, after holding a bilateral meeting at the Peruvian defense ministry in Lima, Saturday. Yonhap

The arms procurement agency also announced earlier in the day that South Korea and Peru signed three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation in Lima on Saturday (local time). This comes as President Yoon Suk Yeol made an official visit to Peru for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

The agreements followed a meeting between DAPA Minister Seok Jong-gun and Peruvian Defense Minister Walter Astudillo, in which they agreed to expand collaboration in the ground, sea and air defense sectors.

Specifically, the MOUs include a comprehensive cooperation framework for ground equipment, joint development of naval submarines and joint production of KF-21 jets.

In the ground sector, Hyundai Rotem signed a comprehensive agreement with the Peruvian Army Arsenal or FAME S.A.C. — Peru's military weapons manufacturing institution — for ground weapons, including K2 tanks and wheeled armored vehicles.

In the maritime sector, Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Peru's state-owned SIMA shipyard to jointly develop submarines. The MOU is part of the Peruvian Navy's efforts to replace aging vessels and strengthen cooperation between the two companies.

In the air sector, Korea Aerospace Industries signed an agreement with SEMAN, Peru's state-owned aerospace company, for the local joint production of KF-21 components. Peru had previously acquired 20 KT-1P aircraft in 2012, with 16 of them being assembled locally by SEMAN to promote the development of Peru's aviation industry.

"The signing of the agreements between Peru and Korean defense companies has laid the foundation for comprehensive medium- to long-term defense cooperation across the ground, sea and air sectors between the two countries. It is expected that this would lead to the expansion of defense cooperation in the Latin American region," Seok said.