![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]()
Seoul (AFP) March 2, 2011 South Korea will start receiving advanced surveillance planes from US aircraft giant Boeing this year, officials said Wednesday. The first of the modified Boeing 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) planes will be delivered to South Korea's air force in July, a defence ministry spokesman said. It has successfully completed test flights and is now in the final stage of evaluation, he said. The remaining three being built under a 1.6 billion dollar deal in 2006 will be delivered by the end of 2012, he said. Military officials said the planes would strengthen Seoul's capacity to carry out air surveillance of North Korea. South Korea currently has no high-altitude air surveillance system of its own and depends on US airborne reconnaissance aircraft based at Okinawa in Japan. The AEW&C encompasses a variety of aircraft control and advanced radar systems that can track airborne and maritime targets simultaneously, and direct fighter jets and ships to engage them. It has an operational ceiling of 12,400 meters (41,000 feet) and can carry two pilots and up to 10 mission crew.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
![]() ![]() Washington (AFP) March 1, 2011 Leading US lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction Tuesday with stalled US diplomatic efforts to dismantle North Korea's nuclear program, warning of the risks of proliferation and regional instability. Senator John Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged the administration to seize the initiative through bilateral negotiations with Pyongyang, citing "the very real ri ... read more |
![]() |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |