Korean Information Service,
The Republic of Korea (ROK) Air Force has succeeded in developing its indigenous maintenance technology for air-to-air missiles such as AIM-9P4 Sidewinder, which is used by the Air Force’s main fighter jets, including F-4 Phantom.
This is expected to contribute greatly to setting up a complete defense posture, as well as reducing nearly 20 billion won a year in costs to place outside orders for maintenance.
“The 86th Maintenance Depot has succeeded in developing its own maintenance technology for AIM-9P4 air-to-air missile, a technology currently owned only by Swiss company RUAG,” the Air Force Logistics Command said February 16. “With our own maintenance now available, we expect our productivity to improve by over six times from previous years.”
The Logistics Command also noted the new technology resolved problems related to difficulties in finding replacement parts for the missile that was introduced in the late 1980s and the time needed to maintain the missile. “This will provide us a chance to significantly improve the operation rate of the missile, as well as user’s confidence in missile conditions.”
A heat-seeking missile, AIM-9P4 was introduced here from 1989 to 1991. It was manufactured by the United States, but even the United States is no longer able to provide maintenance for the missile since its entire maintenance system has been transferred to Switzerland.
It was in 2007 when the 86th Maintenance Depot began developing its own maintenance technology for the missile. The unit’s then sergeant major, Lee Yong Han (39), suggested the unit develop an indigenous maintenance system following his visit to the Swiss company, RUAG, and he finally achieved such a great feat after working on the project day and night with SFC Lee Myeong Soo for over a year.
Han Sung Joo, commander of the Air Force Logistics Command praised service-members at the 86th Maintenance Depot during his visit on February 11, saying, “Our air-to-air missile defense can now be maintained without any holes for a very long time because of our service-members who have succeeded in developing maintenance technology for the high-tech equipment with their persistent efforts.”
