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A digital illustration of the light aircraft carrier the Republic of Korea Navy is pursuing. (provided by the ROK Navy)

A defense project promotion committee chaired by the South Korean Minister of National Defense voted on Feb. 22 to approve a basic strategy for the CVX light aircraft carrier program.

As a first step toward the CVX program's full-scale pursuit, the decision comes amid a debate over whether to proceed.

In the Feb. 22 meeting, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) explained, "We reviewed and approved a basic strategy for pursuit of the light aircraft carrier program, which involves designing and building a light 30,000-ton-class aircraft carrier by 2033 through domestic research and development, at a cost of 2.03 trillion won (US$1.82 billion)."

With the light aircraft carrier project receiving the committee's approval, DAPA plans to reflect the associated costs in next year's budget plan after a project feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF).

The 2.03 trillion won in project expenses includes only the costs of designing and building the aircraft carrier and various forms of equipment to be used inside it. The project's total price tag appears likely to balloon with the costs of acquiring the necessary carrier-based aircraft and escort ships for its operation.

"In terms of aircraft, we will be using vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fighters," a DAPA official explained.

"The acquisition of carrier-based aircraft is to be pursued as a separate project," the official added.

South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook presides over a meeting of the defense project promotion committee on Feb. 22. (provided by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration)

As carrier-based aircraft, military authorities are currently considering the acquisition of 12 F-35B fighters made by the US company Lockheed Martin, sources said.

The light aircraft carrier project was the focus of some debate in a National Assembly meeting on the budget last year. Military officials argued that it was necessary to respond swiftly to various security threats, while opposition parties and others vocally opposed it as a "budget waste" involving an enormous fiscal outlay for equipment without direct bearing on the Korean Peninsula's security.

After the debate, the budget allocated to the light aircraft carrier project amounted to 100 million won (US$90,045) to commission research on its effectiveness and feasibility. That debate now appears poised to reignite as the project gets underway.

The same day, the defense project promotion committee also approved a framework strategy for the "counter-artillery detection radar-III" project. This domestic R&D project aims to replace the outdated AN/TPQ-36/37 counter-artillery detection radar that is currently in use.

The committee further reviewed and approved revisions to the framework strategy for a performance improvement project for the KDX-II class destroyer. While only the towed array sonar system (TASS) was going to be purchased domestically under the original plan, R&D for a domestic combat system was added to the project in line with preliminary research and the revised budget.

Chaired by the Minister of National Defense, the defense project promotion committee is the highest-ranking decision-making body for defense authorities, reviewing and coordinating policies for acquiring major weapon systems.

By Park Byong-su, senior staff writer

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