The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) recently announced the establishment of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations in its new Naval Air Command. This unit will utilize aerial assets to support other branches of the South Korean military.
The Naval Air Command ASW will include aircraft such as the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and MH-60R Seahawk, according to the Korea-based Yonhap News Agency.
The aircraft are equipped with anti-ship and harpoon missiles, torpedoes, dipping sonars, and multiple sonobuoys that could be used against cruisers and surface-based forces.
Due to the capability of these armaments and aircraft commissioned to the new division, local media dubbed it the “submarine killer” command.
Additional vehicles to be commissioned include the Lockheed P-3 and P-3CK Orions, Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II, Super Lynx Combat Helicopter, Grumman F4F Wildcat, Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, and Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey).
“We have achieved a new milestone — the creation of the Naval Air Command, and as the Navy’s aviation forces are central to combined, joint operations, I call for strengthening the Navy’s air operations by further developing an operational concept and continuing to secure high-tech aviation assets,” ROKN Naval Air First Commander Rear Admiral Lee Sang-sik said on July 15.
