Ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version2022.04.24 12:37
The Russian army has a nickname from the imperial era. Steamroller. It was attached because the appearance of the Russian army advancing from Eastern Europe to Western Europe with the force of a broken bamboo is similar to the steamroller, which is a construction equipment that hardens the ground.
If the number of troops that overwhelmed other countries before World War II was the engine of Russia’s steamroller, it was the number of equipment after World War II. According to Wikipedia, the Soviet Army had up to 55,000 tanks, 70,000 armored vehicles, and 24,000 infantry combat vehicles. At this scale, it is larger than the combined holdings of other countries except the Soviet Union.
However, Russian steam rollers are dull these days. Russia is struggling in the war against Ukraine on February 24th. Even though there is a big difference in strength with Ukraine. What stopped the awesome Russian steam roller?
There are many explanations for the recent Russian military war. The limits of the Battalion Combat Team (BTG), chronic logistical shortages, the harmful effects of centralized command, etc. The Korean army should make it a stone of another mountain. Let’s take a look at the lessons learned from the war between Russia and Ukraine and see how the South Korean army can improve in detail.
◇ How to protect a South Korean helicopter from a North Korean matchlock
The Russian attack helicopter Ka52 Alligator has ruined his face in this war. It was evaluated as having a defensive power and an offensive power that surpassed that of the AH64 Apache in the United States, but when the lid was opened, there were voices saying that it was overestimated. It was shot down by a portable anti-aircraft missile such as the FIM92 Stinger made in the United States.
Portable anti-aircraft missiles are a threat to helicopters flying around at low altitudes. In particular, the North Korean army has secured a tremendous amount of portable anti-aircraft missiles called matchlock guns. Therefore, there is a proposal to actively utilize the directional infrared interference system (DIRCM).
The seeker of a portable anti-aircraft missile reacts to the heat emitted from the aircraft. DIRCM is a device that shoots high-power rays that look like aircraft to a missile seeker to trick enemy missiles into another location. The recently developed DIRCM can also destroy the seeker of enemy missiles.
The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Hanwha System independently developed the sixth DIRCM in the world in 2018. However, there is no Korean helicopter equipped with DIRCM yet. This is because DIRCM is large, heavy, and can only be installed on aircraft of a certain size.
The South Korean army is in the process of purchasing a new large mobile helicopter. In the event of an emergency, this helicopter will be used to quickly occupy North Korea with the help of the Second Rapid Response Division. However, if the North Korean army installs portable anti-aircraft missiles in each alley, it will be unconscious. That’s why you have to equip defense equipment like DIRCM.
◇ How to survive the baptism of anti-tank weapons
Ukraine, which lacks mechanized forces, has been effective in hunting Russian tanks with Western anti-tank weapons such as the FGM148 Javelin in the United States and the NLAW in the United Kingdom. According to Orix, as of 23rd, Russian troops have lost 531 tanks, 314 armored vehicles and 561 infantry fighting vehicles. “Tank uselessness” is convincing.
It’s not a story of another country. The North Korean army has a large number of No. 7 launchers (RPG-7) and “Firebird” missiles, which are improvements of the former Soviet anti-tank missiles. In October of last year, a North Korean version of the Spike missile, which was similar to the Israeli Spike anti-tank missile, appeared at the “Self-Defense 2021” of the National Defense Development Exhibition. An armored car loaded with eight missiles also appeared in a military parade.
It is clear that if the South Korean army does not prepare, it will be like the Russian army in the event of an emergency. Tanks have steadily strengthened their armor to increase their defenses, but they have reached their limits. That’s why active protection systems (APS) are an alternative.
There are two types of active protection systems: soft kills, which disturb anti-tank weapons with jammers and compound smoke screen bullets, and hard kills, which shoot corresponding bullets and directly destroy anti-tank weapons. The Korean Army’s K2 tank has soft kill equipment, but soft kill is inevitably limited. The hard kill equipment is being developed domestically, but it has not been installed yet.