Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle

By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

The government plan to purchase Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the United States is expected to hit a snag as the National Assembly cut almost all the budget proposed for the project in late December.

Parliament cut 5.8 billion won of 5.85 billion won proposed for an initial contract for the introduction of high-altitude UAVs, citing a U.S. arms sale ban on the spy plane, Defense Ministry officials said Wednesday.

Seoul has sought to purchase four Global Hawks by 2011 as part of efforts to build independent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for its planned takeover of wartime operational control of its military from the United States in 2012.

The Global Hawk is capable of surveying vast areas with near pinpoint accuracy from as high as 65,000 feet for up to 35 hours continuously. Per-unit price is $45-60 million.

The plan has been stalled, however, as overseas sales of the aircraft are prohibited under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). The MTCR is a voluntary association of countries that share the goal of non-proliferation of ballistic missiles and other unmanned delivery systems that could be used for chemical, biological and nuclear attacks.

The Assembly approved an 8.8 percent increase in military spending for this year.

The budget calls for 26.6 trillion won ($28.5 billion) in military expenditure including 18.9 trillion won for operating costs, up 6.5 percent from the previous year; and 7.6 trillion won for an arms buildup, up 15 percent, the ministry said in a new release.

The ministry originally proposed a 9 percent increase in its defense budget.

The increase in the defense budget is in line with Seoul's efforts to transform its military into a ``smaller but stronger'' one equipped with high-tech weapons systems under the Defense Reform 2020 initiative.

This year, the ministry plans to launch about 30 new arms acquisition projects including the procurement of next-generation infantry fighting vehicles, landing ships, thermal sensors and joint data link systems.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr