ROKAF selects ISR aircraft, eyes ISTAR fleet
This is an artist’s impression of the Falcon 2000LXS-based Baekdu-II ISR aircraft to be operated by the ROKAF. (KAI)
South Korea has two concurrent programmes for special mission aircraft – one for ISR platforms and the other for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft.
Last year, the Defense Project Promotion Committee approved the Baekdu-II ISR programme, to be completed for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) by 2026.
This ISR aircraft programme, which first appeared on the 2020-24 Mid-Term Defense Acquisition Plan, comprises four Baekdu-II aircraft. These will add to two Falcon 2000S SIGINT (Baekdu) aircraft already operating alongside four Hawker 800 Peace Krypton platforms.
The Baekdu-II project will allow retirement for the Hawker 800s, as
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