The Republic of Korea (South Korea), according to the Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), is among the top ten countries in defense spending. The South Korean military budget in 2015 amounted to $ 36.4 billion, for comparison, Russian defense spending over the same period is estimated at $ 66.4 billion. According to the official data of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Korea, 650 thousand people serve in the South Korean armed forces, 495 thousand in the ground forces. At the same time, the population in South Korea is 51.5 million people. There are 1 million people in the Russian army, while the population of the Russian Federation is 146, 5 million people.
The Ground Forces are armed with up to 100 OTR "Hyunmu-1" and "Hyunmu-2A" with a launch range of 180-300 km, more than 1,500 modern K1, K2 and T-80 tanks and more than 3,000 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. The basis of self-propelled artillery is made up of more than 800 155-mm K9 self-propelled guns. There are also more than 1000 155-mm self-propelled guns M109A2 and 203-mm M110, more than 3500 towed 105-203-mm guns and more than 200 MLRS. The anti-tank units have approximately 2,000 Tou ATGMs and 220 Metis ATGMs. In service with the Air Defense of the Ground Forces there are more than 100 K-SAM "Chunma" air defense systems and more than 1000 "Stiger", "Javelin", "Mistral" and "Igla" MANPADS, more than 500 air defense systems and towed 20-40 mm caliber air defense systems. The army aviation has more than 500 combat and transport helicopters. Including about 50 AN-1S "Cobra" and 36 AH-64E.
Google earth snapshot: AH-64 helicopters around Pyeongtaek
Contingents of South Korean ground forces were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan. As of September 19, 2007, the South Korean military contingent in Iraq totaled 1,200 people, it was the third largest after the United States and Great Britain. In December 2008, South Korean troops were withdrawn from Iraq.
Google earth snapshot: South Korean garrison in Chilgok area
Satellite images of most of the territory of South Korea are in low resolution, and therefore it is very problematic to identify specific models of equipment and weapons of the Ground Forces on them. More clearly, using the Google earth resource, you can observe the South Korean Air Force and Navy bases. According to the GlobalSequrity.org website, South Korea has 11 main, 49 auxiliary air bases and 14 dual-use airfields. After the production of operational-tactical missiles, created on the basis of the Soviet OTR R-17, began in the DPRK in the 80s, the construction of capital reinforced concrete shelters for aircraft began at all the main and most of the reserve South Korean air bases.
In the combat composition of the Air Force of the Republic of Korea, there are mainly aircraft and helicopters of American production or development, produced under license. However, there are aircraft of British, Spanish and even Russian production. The 60 F-15K multifunctional fighters are considered the most modern. These fighters are based on the F-15E using a number of Korean-made components and avionics. The F-15K is in service with three fighter squadrons of the 11th Fighter Wing, based at Gwangju and Daegu airfields.
Google earth snapshot: South Korean F-15K fighters at Daegu airbase
The most numerous type of combat aircraft in South Korea is the F-16 Block 50/56 and the KF-16 fighters built on its basis. In total, the Air Force of the Republic of Korea received 164 fighters of American and local construction. They are in service with the 19th, 20th Fighter Wings and the 38th Fighter Air Group, based at the Yungwon, Seozan and Gunsan airfields.
Google earth snapshot: South Korean KF-16 fighter jet at Gunsan Air Base
In addition to the F-16, South Korea has been building since 2005 a two-seat supersonic combat training jet T-50, created by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in conjunction with the American company Lockheed Martin.
Google earth snapshot: T-50 combat trainers at Wonju airbase
The Air Force has more than 60 combat training and combat vehicles of this type. This aircraft in the FA-50 modification is capable of acting as a light fighter or attack aircraft, using a wide range of guided and unguided weapons. This variant is planned to replace all obsolete F-5E light fighters. The South Korean Black Eagles aerobatic team flies on the T-50B modification. The construction of the T-50 is underway in the city of Sacheon.
Google earth snapshot: Aircraft Museum at the KAI aircraft factory in Sacheon
The outdated F-4E Phantom II fighters (about 60 in flight condition), RF-4C reconnaissance aircraft (15 machines) and F-5E Tiger II (about 50 fighters) are still in the Republic of Korea. The Tiger-2 single and double light fighters were built under license under the designation KF-5E / F. After the withdrawal of the F-4 and F-5 aircraft from service, they are not immediately written off, but sent "for storage", thus forming a technical reserve.
Google earth snapshot: F-4 and F-5 fighters in storage at Tegu airbase
In addition to combat aircraft, the Republic of Korea Air Force uses approximately 180 training aircraft. Among them, in addition to the Korean T-50 and KT-1, includes 15 British "Hawk" Mk 67 and 23 Russian Il-103. In the military transport segment of the South Korean Air Force, there are 12 American C-130H and 20 Spanish CN-235M. Long-range radar patrol and electronic reconnaissance are provided by 4 Boeing 737 AEW & C AWACS aircraft and 8 Hawker 800SIG and 800RA reconnaissance aircraft.
Google earth snapshot: South Korean military transport aircraft at Gimhae airbase
As of mid-2016, the Air Force had over 70 helicopters. The most numerous are American ones: MD 500, HH-60P, CH-47D, however, 7 Russian Ka-32s fly in the search and rescue service of the Air Force of the Republic of Korea.
The South Korean Air Force has an Air Defense and Air Traffic Control Command responsible for airspace control and air defense. By the number of long and medium-range air defense systems deployed in the country, the Republic of Korea is among the leaders. Until 2005, the long-range stationary complexes "Nike-Hercules" were in service, now they are all replaced by the American MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems, and the Nike-Hercules air defense missile systems have been converted into the OTR "Hyunmu-1". At the moment, the sky is protected by eight batteries of the Patriot air defense system belonging to the armed forces of South Korea.
Google earth snapshot: the position of the Patriot air defense missile system in the Suwon area
In addition to the Patriot long-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, South Korea has 24 MIM-23 Improved Hawk medium-range air defense systems. Most of the Patriot and Advanced Hawk air defense systems are on constant alert. Stationary, well-equipped positions of anti-aircraft complexes are located in the vicinity of air bases or on hills. At the same time, the infrastructure built for the decommissioned Nike-Hercules air defense systems is partially used.
Google earth snapshot: positions of the USS. Hawk in the Gyeonggi area
To protect air bases and radar stations from low-flying combat aircraft, there are more than a hundred mobile French Crotale-NG near-zone air defense systems. But "Crotali" are not on constant duty and move to the covered objects during exercises or during the next exacerbation of the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
The United States has a very large military presence in South Korea. At the moment, there are about 25,000 American troops in the country. The American ground forces stationed in Korea are part of the US 8th Field Army, headquartered in Yongsan. There are two large American air bases on the Korean Peninsula: Kunsan and Osan. Gunsan Air Base is jointly operated by the US Air Force and South Korea and is located 240 kilometers south of Seoul. F-16C / D fighters of the 8th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the USAF are based here. The airbase is protected from air strikes by the battery of the South Korean air defense system "Hawk" and the American battery of the air defense missile system "Patriot".
Google earth snapshot: A-10C attack aircraft and F-16C fighters on the runway of the Hosann airbase
The A-10C and F-16C / D of the 51st Fighter Regiment of the US Air Force are based at the Osan airbase. The A-10C attack aircraft belong to the 25th Fighter Squadron, and the F-16C / D fighter-bombers belong to the 36th Fighter Squadron. In the early 90s, two batteries of the Patriot air defense missile system, which are part of the 35th Air Defense Brigade of the US Army, were deployed not far from the runway.
Google earth snapshot: Patriot air defense missile system in the vicinity of Osan airbase
Until the mid-60s, the Korean Navy had only patrol and torpedo boats and small landing craft. In 1963, the United States received the first Fletcher-class destroyer, built during the Second World War. In the mid-70s, the Navy already had 9 destroyers and three large amphibious assault ships of the LST type.
Currently, the South Korean Navy is developing very dynamically. The submarine has 5 submarines of type 214 (Son Won-II), 9 boats of type 209/1200 (Chang Bogo) and two small type KSS-1 (Dolgorae). South Korean submarines have German roots. Type 214 submarines are built at the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel. The boat is equipped with a diesel generator combined with an air-independent propulsion system (AIP) based on hydrogen fuel cells. The Republic of Korea ordered nine submarines of this type under the designation Son Won-II. The contract stipulated that the boats would be built in Korea at the shipyards of Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. Boats of type 209/1200 entered service with the Navy from 1993 to 2001. According to Western experts, boats of the 209/1200 type are very well suited for operations in coastal areas. Low noise and modest size make it difficult to detect in shallow water.
Google earth snapshot: South Korean submarines at the naval base in Chinghai
The core of the surface force is twelve KDX-I (Gwanggaeto), KDX-II (Chungmugong Isunsin-geup) and KDX-III (Sejong the Great) missile destroyers. Three destroyers URO KDX-I were the first ships of this class, built at South Korean shipyards. They entered service in 1998-2000. The ships have an autonomy of 15 days and are intended mainly for operations in coastal areas. The weapons of the KDX-I destroyers include 8 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, 16 Sea Sparrow missiles, two 324-mm three-tube Mk 32 torpedo tubes for firing Mk 46 anti-submarine torpedoes. The ship can be equipped with a Super Lynx anti-submarine helicopter.
URO destroyers of the KDX-II series have become much larger and more advanced warships. The first South Korean destroyer of the "Chungmugong Li Sunsin" class joined the South Korean Navy in 2003; a total of 6 ships were built. The main strike weapon of this type of destroyers is up to 32 Hyunmoo III missile launchers (analogous to the American Tomahawk missile launcher). In two quadruple launchers there are 8 "Harpoon" anti-ship missiles. To protect against aviation in the UVP Mark 41 there are 32 SAM "Standard-2". Anti-submarine weapons and air group composition are similar to those of the KDX-I destroyers.
Since 2007, the Navy of the Republic of Korea has been receiving warships equipped with the Aegis system. The first South Korean "Aegis" was the destroyer URO "King Sejong" (project KDX-III), this ship is in many ways an analogue of the American URO destroyers of the "Arleigh Burke" class. The missile armament includes: two UVP Mark 41 (a total of 80 cells for the placement of SAM "Standard-2" and ASROC PLUR), up to 32 CD of Hyunmoo III missiles. The ship provides for the basing of two helicopters.
Google earth snapshot: South Korean Navy ships in Pyeongtek naval base
In the second half of the 70s, independent construction of Ulsan-class frigates began in South Korea. By 1993, nine ships of this type were built. They use the Harpoon anti-ship missile system, two 76-mm OTO Melara artillery mounts and 40-mm or 30-mm anti-aircraft guns as the main strike weapon. Anti-submarine weapons - Mk46 homing torpedoes and depth charges. In 2008, the Republic of Korea adopted the FFX program, according to which the construction of more advanced frigates is envisaged. The South Korean Navy has 13 frigates such as Daegu, Incheon and Ulsan. These ships carry artillery weapons, anti-ship missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes. The fleet also has 17 corvettes (patrol ships) of the Gumdoksuri class and 18 Ponang class and more than 50 Chamsuri-class artillery patrol boats.
The largest warship of the South Korean Navy with a total displacement of more than 18,000 tons is the Dokdo universal amphibious assault ship (UDC "Dokdo"), adopted in July 2007. The ship, 199 meters long and 31 meters wide, can accommodate 720 paratroopers, 10 tanks, 7 amphibious armored vehicles AAV-7, 10 UH-60 helicopters and two LCAC boats, or 4 LCAS boats. Self-defense of the UDC of the near zone is provided by the ASMD SAM (21 SAM) and the Goalkeeper ZAK (two 30-mm installations). Information leaked to the media that the South Korean government was considering placing F-35B fighters on ships of this type.
Google earth snapshot: Dokdo UDC and King Sejong-class Aegis destroyer at the Jinhe naval base
The Korean Navy has one brigade and two marine divisions, with a total strength of 28,000. The marines are armed with 60 tanks and more than 140 LVTP-7 and AAV-7 armored personnel carriers, as well as 105 and 155-mm artillery pieces. In addition to the Dokdo UDC, since 2014, the South Korean marines have at their disposal the Cheon Wang Bong tank landing ship (TDK Cheon Wang Bong) with a total displacement of 7140 tons. Currently, three more such TDKs are under construction.
Google earth snapshot: South Korean amphibious ships at the Qinghai naval base
In the period from 1991 to 1998, the amphibious forces of South Korea have already received 4 TDK type Go Jun Bong (TDK "Go Jun Bong") with a total displacement of 4300 tons. Each of them can accommodate 258 marines, 14 amphibious armored personnel carriers or 12 tanks. In the future, the Chong Van Bong-class TDK should replace these ships. In 2003, for the South Korean Marines in Russia, three landing assault hovercraft, pr. 1206.1, were ordered; on the basis of their design, three more high-speed landing craft Solgae 631 were built in the Republic of Korea. Russian and South Korean hovercraft have similar characteristics and are capable of transport one main battle tank and approximately two platoons of paratroopers with weapons. Also in the Navy of the Republic of Korea there are three dozen rescue, mine-sweeping and auxiliary vessels.
Google earth snapshot: South Korean R-3C anti-submarine aircraft at Jeju airfield
In the South Korean naval aviation, in addition to 50 anti-submarine, search and rescue helicopters and transport helicopters, 16 base patrol P-3C Orion have been in service since the early 90s. Eight Orions were upgraded by KAI to the level of P-3SK from P-3V. In addition to the Orions, 5 twin-engine turboprop Cessna F406 Caravan II are used to perform patrol flights in the near zone.
Google earth snapshot: USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers docked at the Busan Naval Base
In the past, the main US naval base on the Korean Peninsula was the port of Chinghai. At the moment, the main base of the Republic of Korea Navy is located here. Recently, repairs and maintenance of American warships, including those with nuclear power plants, have been taking place in the port of Busan. The flagship of the US Seventh Fleet, the Blue Ridge Command Ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), is regularly moored in Busan.
Google earth snapshot: USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) docked at Busan naval base
In general, the armed forces of the Republic of Korea are assessed by foreign military experts as sufficiently combat-ready. The level of combat training of the South Korean servicemen is very high. More than half of the equipment and weapons available in the troops are modern samples of foreign or national production. The rapid economic growth and development of high technologies in the country made it possible to create or cost licensed modern tanks, aircraft and ships that meet the highest requirements in terms of their characteristics. In recent years, some South Korean samples have been competing in the world arms market with products from countries that are considered leaders in the creation of military products.
If in the past the defense of South Korea was entirely dependent on US military assistance, then in the last decade one can observe how the qualitative composition of the South Korean armed forces is strengthening and at the same time the US military presence in Korea is decreasing. At the same time, the political influence of the Americans on the South Korean leadership is still great, and there is no reason to believe that the Republic of Korea will abandon its pro-American course.
At the moment, there is a stalemate on the Korean Peninsula. The Republic of Korea and the DPRK are not able to solve the problem of uniting the country by military means. The North Korean army, which is significantly outnumbered, is hopelessly inferior technologically, and is unable to defeat the South Korean armed forces in offensive operations, to seize and hold territory. At the same time, in the event of an attack on the DPRK, the North Korean army has the ability to inflict unacceptable losses on the invading South Korean and American forces and turn the territory of the Korean Peninsula into a zone of scorched earth.
