LIG D&A's 'Defense Corruption Technologies'... Are They Unrelated to Electronic Warfare Aircraft?

▲ Concept art of LIG D&A's electronic warfare aircraft

Controversy continues over the connection between the electronic warfare aircraft project and the largest-ever defense corruption case in history, in which LIG D&A is accused of winning six defense projects in exchange for giving a 460 million won bribe to a Grade 5 official at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). This is because if the six defense projects turn out to involve technologies directly tied to electronic warfare aircraft, the 1.8 trillion won system development contract for the electronic warfare aircraft won by LIG D&A in December last year could be terminated, potentially leading to a change in the project's lead contractor.

First, the defense projects illicitly secured by LIG D&A must be examined. According to reporting by SBS, the six defense projects are: ① small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) response system, ② intelligent signal detection technology, ③ real-time wideband multi-threat signal environment simulation technology, ④ jamming technology against electronically scanned array radars, ⑤ real-time anti-satellite jamming technology based on a space radio environment situational awareness model, and ⑥ a module platform for active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.

LIG D&A maintains that "the six technologies are completely unrelated to electronic warfare aircraft." However, prosecutors leading the investigation and the defense industry view that "the company snatched core technology projects in the electronic warfare field through bribery to secure the electronic warfare aircraft system development project." DAPA appears to share a similar view with the prosecution. Which side is telling the truth?

① Small UAV response system is a technology designed to intercept small drones. ② Intelligent signal detection technology detects faint signals in complex electromagnetic wave environments rather than general electrical signals, and automatically recognizes modulation methods. ③ Real-time wideband multi-threat signal environment simulation technology simultaneously detects and analyzes multiple enemy threat signals in the complex signal environment of actual combat.

④ Jamming technology against electronically scanned array radars disrupts and neutralizes the enemy's high-performance radars using electronic scanning methods, while ⑤ real-time anti-satellite jamming technology based on a space radio environment situational awareness model disrupts and neutralizes satellites in space. ⑥ The module platform for active electronically scanned array radars serves as a common platform for defense semiconductors and various modules mounted on aircraft.

Technologies ② and ③ are defensive technologies that decipher various complex signals from enemies. Technologies ④ and ⑤ are offensive technologies that disable enemy radars and satellites dispersed across land, air, and space. Technology ⑥ can be seen as a versatile, general-purpose technology applicable across fighter jets, electronic warfare aircraft, and airborne early warning and control aircraft.

Industry officials from multiple defense companies contacted by SBS agreed that "technologies ② through ⑥ are electronic warfare technologies applied to electronic warfare aircraft." A key official from the Ministry of National Defense pointed out, "Because LIG D&A acquired electronic warfare-related technologies such as technologies ② through ⑥, LIG D&A's technology readiness level (TRL) for electronic warfare aircraft was higher than that of the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), which led to the decision to pursue the electronic warfare aircraft system development project under contractor leadership." DAPA officials also stated, "Technologies ② through ⑥ are classified under the electronic warfare field."

A press release distributed on August 20 by the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office classified ② intelligent signal detection technology and ④ jamming technology against electronically scanned array radars as core technologies for electronic warfare aircraft, and ③ real-time wideband multi-threat signal environment simulation technology as technology related to electronic warfare aircraft. The indictment by the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office obtained by SBS broadened the scope further, grouping technologies ① through ⑤ under electromagnetic warfare, a new term for electronic warfare.

The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office evaluated the technologies somewhat strictly in its press release, while the indictment assessed them similarly to the perspectives of the industry and DAPA. In any case, prosecutors asserted that "by bribing a DAPA official to win multiple defense projects, LIG D&A secured an advantageous position in the competition for the electronic warfare aircraft system development project." They also defined the incident as "a grave anti-state crime that shakes national security."

LIG D&A is telling a completely different story. In a statement released on August 21, LIG D&A emphasized regarding the illicitly won defense projects that "they have no connection to the core technological elements of the electronic warfare aircraft project." It pushed back against the prosecution's press release, calling it a "groundless claim."

The viewpoints of the prosecution, defense contractors, and DAPA on the connection between LIG D&A's illicitly won projects and the electronic warfare aircraft project differ sharply from LIG D&A's stance. The gap is so wide that it is difficult to find common ground for debate, yet the dispute is expected to drag on. It could also become a lingering burden on K-defense. DAPA must resolve this tangled issue effectively.

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