KAI drew significant attention at ADEX, held from October 17 to 24 at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam and KINTEX in Ilsan, by unveiling a model of its indigenous maritime patrol aircraft based on the large Global 6500 business jet. ROKN currently fields 21 MPAs—15 P-3C series airframes and six P-8A Poseidons but the May crash of a P-3CK and the increasing difficulty of sustaining 30-year-old airframes have sharply accelerated planning for a successor. At ADEX 2025, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) publicly showcased its first indigenous MPA concept based on the Bombardier Global 6500, signaling a potential shift toward domestic development.

The Pohang P-3CK Crash—A Turning Point

The fatal P-3CK accident near Pohang remains unresolved due to the lack of a flight data recorder and a destroyed cockpit voice recorder. Investigations using simulators, wreckage analysis, and environmental studies failed to identify any single causal factor. The joint investigation concluded the accident resulted from a “complex combination of mechanical, human, and environmental elements.” Following the loss, the Navy grounded its P-3CK fleet for inspections and introduced updated safety protocols. With seven P-3CKs remaining, the Navy will propose six replacement aircraft—judging that modern MPAs offer higher availability than legacy platforms.

Key Decision Point: Foreign Procurement vs. Domestic Development

Once the JCS validates the operational requirement, the next step will be determining the acquisition strategy. Two paths exist:

Option A — Expand Foreign Procurement

The most likely foreign option is additional P-8A Poseidons, leveraging existing training and logistics.
However, challenges include:

• High acquisition and life-cycle cost

• Limited integration flexibility for Korean sensors/unmanned systems

• Dependence on U.S. export approvals

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Option B — Indigenous MPA Development

This approach mirrors recent ROKAF programs (AEW&C Block-II, electronic warfare aircraft) that used foreign commercial airframes customized with Korean mission systems.

Analysts widely expect Seoul to favor a domestic development model due to: Greater integration freedom, Lower long-term costs, Strategic autonomy Support for the Navy’s future MUM-T (manned–unmanned teaming) concept.

Why Global 6500? Platform Rationale Explained

KAI’s selection of the Global 6500 reflects a multi-year platform evaluation process that considered Airbus A321, Boeing 737, and other business jets.

Global 6500 Advantages

• 12,225 km maximum range — top-tier endurance for ASW/ISR missions

• Lower operating and maintenance cost than militarized commercial transports

• Short-runway performance, higher basing flexibility than the P-8A

• ROKAF interoperability — already selected for AEW&C and EW aircraft

• Proven in global MPA design studies (Saab Swordfish, Bombardier proposals)

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KAI’s Proposed MPA Layout

• Internal weapons bay for four Blue Shark lightweight torpedoes

• 360° maritime surveillance radar (nose & aft mounts)

• Wing stations for anti-ship missiles and KGGB precision glide bombs

• Integrated mission crew consoles

• Sonobuoy launchers for ASW operations

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KAI’s model underscores that most key technologies—sensors, mission systems, weapons—are already fully domestic and fielded.

Korean ASW Technologies Reach Global-Tier Capability

Breakthrough: Multi-Static Low-Frequency Active Sonobuoys

On Nov. 17, Sonatech announced successful localization of a multi-static LFA sonobuoy system, making Korea only the third nation after the U.S. and U.K. to field such capability. Key effects include: Dramatically larger submarine detection radius, Networked operations linking ships, submarines, and aircraft, Active–passive combined buoy operations (1 active + 4 passive units)

Indigenous Torpedoes Already Operational

The Korean Blue Shark torpedo: 12 km range, 500–600 m depth, Operational on ROKN helicopters & P-3Cs, Exported to the Philippines. This domestic weapons inventory simplifies integration for a Korean-developed MPA.

“Navy Sea Ghost” — The Future Concept Driving the MPA Decision

ROKN’s long-term maritime strategy centers on Navy Sea Ghost, an AI-enabled, fully integrated manned–unmanned maritime combat architecture combining: Surface combatants, Submarines, USVs, UUVs, Maritime UAVs. MPA as the airborne command node For Sea Ghost to function, platforms must be able to integrate with Korean-developed unmanned systems at the mission-system level.

Foreign aircraft face integration barriers:

• OEM approval required

• Foreign government export clearance

• Higher integration cost

• Limited access to core mission system interfaces

Indigenous MPA = Full integration freedom

Domestic development offers: Total control over mission architecture, Seamless integration with Korea’s ASW and unmanned systems, Future-proof upgrades without foreign restrictions.

Outlook — Momentum Shifting Toward a Korean-Built MPA
Replacing the entire P-3C fleet could require 10+ aircraft, offering strong economies of scale for domestic production. With: rowing emphasis on unmanned teaming, The need for autonomous integration authority, Mature indigenous ASW technologies, A strong industrial base, Lower life-cycle cost. The case for a Korean-developed Global 6500 MPA grows stronger by the month. Most defense analysts, including ROKN insiders, expect the indigenous path to win out over additional P-8A procurement—aligning with Seoul’s long-term strategic, operational, and industrial priorities.

K-DEFENSE NEWS | Strategic Analysis Desk