STX Engine, a South Korean manufacturer founded in 1976, is currently working on upgrading naval radars and localizing military hardware to boost the country’s defense capabilities.
The company has started improving the performance of ship-to-ship radar SPS-95K, which is used in large destroyers and other vessels of the navy.
STX Engine has also been recognized for localizing the engine in the self-propelled howitzer, K-9 Thunder. STX Engine has been instrumental in the development of shipbuilding in S. Korea.
According to the defense industry, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) held a meeting last month at STX Engine’s Yongin business site regarding the ship-to-ship radar performance improvement project.
Previously, in 1995, Daewoo Telecom supplied the military with the SPS-95K radar, which was mainly installed on large vessels over 1500 tons built before 2015. Daewoo Telecom was acquired by STX Engine in 2004 after transitioning through Mtech.
This project is a part of the Ministry of National Defense’s initiative to improve the performance of existing military capabilities. The initiative aims to target destroyers such as the Gwanggaeto the Great-class, Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class, and Sejong the Great-class. STX Engine plans to complete the performance improvement work by the end of this year.
According to an STX Engine representative, outdated parts or parts that are no longer in stock are being replaced with compatible new parts. This replacement not only enhances the performance of the radar but also makes it easier to source parts and repair, thereby improving the operational rate of the forces.
STX Engine has plans to localize coastal surveillance radars and submarine navigation radars before the end of this year. Coastal surveillance radars are designed to detect and track moving ships along coastlines and island areas.
The company is currently developing a new coastal surveillance radar that is expected to have a detection range about 1.5 times longer than existing radars. It will also have the ability to separate and identify adjacent targets, and more than double the number of targets that can be tracked simultaneously.
At the International Marine Defense Exhibition (MADEX) last year, STX Engine showcased its submarine navigation radar antenna set, which was developed using the company’s own technology.
STX Engine developed an engine for the K-9 Thunder. Previously, the K-9 Thunder used the MT881 engine, which was produced domestically by STX Engine under license from Germany’s MTU. As a result, S. Korea needed Germany’s permission to export the K-9 Thunder.
In 2020, a deal to export the K-9 Thunder to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was almost finalized, but it fell through due to Germany’s arms export restrictions to the Middle East.
In response, the S. Korean government declared the localization of the K-9 engine in 2020, and after three years of research and development, STX Engine developed the ‘SMV 1000′, which is a 1000 horsepower class engine. This project was also named one of the ‘Top 10 R&D Outstanding Achievements of 2023′ selected by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy last year.
