South Korean Navy Trials Aegis Combat System

The Republic of Korea Navy has successfully trialled the Aegis combat system for its vessel Sejong the Great.

Sejong the Great is the first of three KDX-III destroyers being built by the Republic of Korea.

The 10,000t fully loaded KDX-III destroyer is the largest surface warship to carry the Aegis combat system with a standard displacement capacity of 8,500t.

The combat system ship qualification trials (CSSQT) were conducted at the Pacific Missile Range Facility.

The CSSQT has evaluated the Aegis combat system for combat-readiness through intensive surface, subsurface and anti-air warfare exercises and tested the system's tactical data link capabilities.

The anti-air warfare exercises included manned aircraft raids, electronic attack scenarios and live Standard missile-2 and rolling airframe missile air defence engagements.

The Aegis system includes Lockheed's SPY-1 radar, which when paired with the mk41 vertical launching system is capable of delivering missiles for every mission and threat environment in naval warfare.

Lockheed Mission Systems & Sensors vice-president and general manager Jeff Bantle said the ship will provide novel air defence, anti-submarine, anti-surface and self-defence capabilities to the Republic of Korea Navy.

Currently, Aegis is deployed on 93 ships around the globe and is the weapon of choice for Australia, Japan, Norway and Spain.