South Korea’s C-130H Military Transport Aircraft Gets a $560M Defense Boost

C-130H Performance Improvement Project
Infrared Tracking Response System
Successful Power Generation with Korean Domestic Technology

An advanced aircraft defense system, developed using purely domestic technology, is expected to be mounted on the Air Force’s C-130H Hercules tactical transport aircraft. Hanwha Systems announced on the 19th that it had signed a contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration for the C-130H Performance Improvement (2nd Phase) project worth 736.59 billion won (approximately USD 560 million).

This project involves equipping some C-130H transport aircraft with self-protection equipment such as the Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM), Survival Management Computer (EWC), and Missile Approach Warning Equipment (MAWS) provided by foreign partners, all developed by Hanwha Systems using domestic technology. The aim is to enhance the aircraft’s survival capabilities against attacks from infrared-guided missiles.

Successful Domestication as the Sixth in the World
Plan to Install on Various Types of Aircraft

The Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) to be installed on the C-130H is the first in South Korea and the sixth in the world to be successfully domesticated, following the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel. Hanwha Systems participated in the DIRCM test development led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) as a prototype development company in 2014 and succeeded in development in 2018. After conducting the initial operational test and evaluation through the key technology projects of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration in 2020-2021, it proved its performance last year and succeeded in power generation. Hanwha Systems plans to apply it to various aircraft, from the Air Force helicopter to large aircraft, by securing additional high beam source technology to improve DIRCM performance through its own investment.

Missile System Using Laser Illuminator
Improvement of Aircraft Survival Ability

DIRCM, considered essential survival equipment for aircraft, serves as a defense system to counter attacks from infrared-guided missiles, such as Man-portable air-defense systems (MADPADS). While flares can disrupt heat-seeking missiles, modern guided missiles that track infrared shapes require a separate advanced deception system. DIRCM operates by detecting threat signals from the enemy from a missile warning device and firing a high-output infrared laser (deception light source) to deceive the missile. Kim Jung-ho, the business representative of Hanwha Systems’ Aviation and Space Business Division, said, “We hope to overcome the limitations that have been dependent on foreign technology and contribute to the realization of self-defense. We plan to actively challenge the global defense market by securing export competitiveness.”