Image source: topwar.ru
In the near future, the Republic of Korea will acquire SM-6 missiles for the KDX III Batch II destroyers. The SM-6 missile, also known as the RIM-174 extended-range anti-aircraft missile (ERAM), is capable of performing air and missile defense tasks, as well as combating surface targets.
The decision on the purchase of missiles was made at a meeting of the Committee for the Promotion of the Defense Procurement Program, which was chaired by the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea Su Wook. The meeting was held on April 26, 2022.
It was decided that the South Korean authorities will invest $ 600 million in the period from 2023 to 2031 for the acquisition of SM-6. The missiles will be placed on three King Sejong the Great (KDX-III) Batch-II class destroyers equipped with the Aegis system, which will be delivered to the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) starting in 2024.
Earlier, military analysts have repeatedly criticized the South Korean Navy for the lack of serious missile defense. In the conditions of the incessant missile tests of the DPRK, this is very dangerous. Currently, the South Korean Navy is only able to provide early warning of the approach of ballistic missiles and cannot intercept them.
The SM-6 has a range of 240-460 km, which is about twice as long as the SM-2 (170 km) in service with the South Korean Navy. This means that such missiles will help the ROK defend itself against ballistic missiles that can be launched from North Korea in the event of a conflict, the likelihood of which should also not be denied.
According to Raytheon, the RIM-174 extended-range anti–aircraft missile (ERAM), or the standard missile 6 (SM-6), can perform various combat tasks - this is missile defense, and countering strikes from aircraft, and work on enemy surface targets.
The deployment of such missiles on the KDX-III Batch II destroyers implies a significant increase in the combat capabilities of the North Korean fleet. He will not only receive protection from missile attacks from the enemy, but will also be able to fight more effectively with enemy warships. According to South Korean sources, the KDX III Batch II ships will have a total of 88 cells of the vertical launch system (VLS).
Starting in 2024, the South Korean Navy will receive a new destroyer every 2 years. Apparently, in the context of growing tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, South Korea intends to significantly increase its maritime activity. This also meets the interests of the United States as the main patron of Seoul, since in the future the capabilities of the South Korean Navy will be used to deter not only North Korea, but also China.