The ministry will start its next-generation surface-to-air missile project (SAM-X) from next year with a budget of W1.1 trillion (US$1.1 billion) as well as getting 7,000-ton Aegis destroyers (KDX-III), 1,800-ton 214 Class submarines and 155 mm K-9 self-propelled howitzers. Once it has all 40 F-15K fighter-bombers it is buying by 2008, it wants to embark on a new project to obtain more powerful fighter jets.

The Defense Ministry outlined all this in a mid-term plan announced Thursday detailing defense projects from 2006 to 2010. Under the plan, the defense budget will grow from the current 2.5 percent of GDP to 2.7 percent in 2010, and the percentage of investment used to upgrade Korea’s fighting strength would increase from 33.9 percent to 40 percent.

“The budget to upgrade fighting strength is W54 trillion, and about W800 billion will be invested in 20 new projects,” said Nam Dong-kyun, the Defense Ministry’s planning and budget officer.

Capability to hit strategic targets in North Korea like nuclear facilities and missile bases will also be strengthened. The ministry will obtain Joint Direct Attack Munitions and Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missiles, GPS-guided warheads capable of accurately hitting targets from long distances. Both systems can be carried by the F-15K.

To neutralize the North Korean artillery threat to the Seoul metropolitan area, artillery-locating radar will be deployed to all front-line army corps, and stockpiles of large-caliber shells will be greatly increased.

Meanwhile, army residences of less than 15 pyeong (roughly 50 square meters) or over 25 years old will be upgraded to roughly the size of public housing (24-32 pyeong), while salaries for privates will be increased to W80,000 by 2008.

(englishnews@chosun.com )