S Korea to develop 'Iron Dome'-style defence system

[TR_123456]

Experts believe most of North Korea’s 13,600 guns and multiple rocket launchers are positioned near the border, about 40 kilometres from Seoul. Image: Shutterstock

South Korea approved plans on Monday to pursue a US$2.6-billion artillery interception system, similar to Israel's "Iron Dome", designed to protect against North Korea's arsenal of long-range guns and rockets, the defence acquisition agency said.

A large part of the area surrounding Seoul, the capital, is home to about half the population of 52 million, and lies within range of the neighbour’s long-range guns and multiple rocket launchers.

Late last year the government's defence blueprint called for the development of a "Korean-style Iron Dome" that can defend Seoul and key facilities.

On Monday a committee presided over by Defence Minister Suh Wook approved the project, expected to be completed around 2035 at a cost of 2.89 trillion won (US$2.6 billion), the Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a statement.

"Through this project, it is expected that the ability to respond to the threat of enemy long-range artillery will be strengthened, as well as securing domestic technology and creating domestic jobs," it said.

The Ministry of National Defence has said while existing weapons such as the Patriot and THAAD missile defence systems are designed to target the North's increasingly capable short-range ballistic missiles, the new system aims to protect against long-range artillery and multiple rocket launchers.

錯誤 - RTHK

錯誤 - RTHK

news.rthk.hk

 

[Ayrtonite]

I feel like this is a pretty big waste. The sheer amount of artillery pieces North Korea has aimed at Seoul is just staggering and this type of weapons system would need hundreds if not thousands of nodes in order to not get simply overwhelmed.

 

[Nilgiri]

I feel like this is a pretty big waste. The sheer amount of artillery pieces North Korea has aimed at Seoul is just staggering and this type of weapons system would need hundreds if not thousands of nodes in order to not get simply overwhelmed.

It depends on the wargaming and intel (SoKo+Japan+US) have done w.r.t how many would survive and sustain (to launch past the first and second waves of interdiction done by allied forces on NoKo artillery). We layfolk have little access to such info.

If that number is low (compared to starting amount) but pressing threat, iron dome and such makes valid financial sense to invest in IMO....especially for shoring up relevant buffers for critical logistical infra supporting allied pushes for general area denial of such remaining NoKo assets.

 

[TR_123456]

I feel like this is a pretty big waste. The sheer amount of artillery pieces North Korea has aimed at Seoul is just staggering and this type of weapons system would need hundreds if not thousands of nodes in order to not get simply overwhelmed.

So,what to do,just give up?

 

[Ayrtonite]

So,what to do,just give up?

You spend your money in more intelligent ways. Seoul has 3200 bunkers but unfortunately, they have been neglected. That money could be used to restock and refurbish them. Also, the possibility of War on the Korean peninsula is pretty small but nothing less South Korea should be prepared.

 

[TR_123456]

You spend your money in more intelligent ways. Seoul has 3200 bunkers but unfortunately, they have been neglected. That money could be used to restock and refurbish them. Also, the possibility of War on the Korean peninsula is pretty small but nothing less South Korea should be prepared.

South-Korea is by far the most prepared for a war time situation,you think or know about the bunkers being neglected?

 

[TheInsider]

North Korea has thousands of rocket and gun artillery systems and god knows how many artillery rockets and shells NK has in storage. This is useless. NK is not Hamas. Systems like Iron Dome are useless against countries with military production capabilities.

 

[Ayrtonite]

South-Korea is by far the most prepared for a war time situation,you think or know about the bunkers being neglected?

From the article I linked "In Seoul, most bomb shelters have no long-term supplies of food, water, medical kits or gas masks, an official at Seoul Metropolitan Government told Reuters. They can’t be forced to stock up because no public funding is provided, said the official who declined to be identified."