The Block-I program aims to develop an airborne electronic warfare platform designed to neutralize adversary integrated air defense systems and wireless command-and-control networks.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) convened the program’s launch meeting on Tuesday at LIG Nex1’s Pangyo headquarters, bringing together representatives from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Air Force, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), and the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality. The meeting shared domain-specific development plans and marked the official start of full-scale system development for Block-I.

With a total investment of KRW 1.9198 trillion(about USD 1.5 billion), the Block-I program aims to develop an airborne electronic warfare platform designed to neutralize adversary integrated air defense systems and wireless command-and-control networks. Following development and test & evaluation, the aircraft is slated for operational deployment in 2034.

Unlike legacy electronic warfare assets that primarily provide platform-specific self-protection, the Block-I aircraft is intended to jam across broad areas from standoff ranges, effectively blinding and deafening enemy sensors and communications. Officials say this capability will significantly enhance air power survivability and joint operations effectiveness, shifting the balance of control in contested electromagnetic environments.

The entire Block-I development process will be industry-led, expanding participation by domestic companies and research institutes. Authorities expect the approach to accelerate the acquisition of advanced electronic warfare technologies, strengthen the competitiveness of South Korea’s defense industry, and support job creation.

The program also emphasizes localization of key components, a move intended to invigorate the defense industrial ecosystem and improve the export competitiveness of K-defense products. Building on Block-I experience and technology maturation, DAPA plans to pursue a Block-II variant with evolutionary performance upgrades as a separate effort.

Jeong Gyu-heon, Director General for Future Force Programs at DAPA, said the initiative marks a pivotal moment. “The electronic warfare aircraft represents a new class of weapon system that will be a game-changer on future battlefields,” he noted. “This program launch is an important milestone that can reshape the paradigm of future warfare. We will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure successful development and rigorous program management.”

As spectrum dominance becomes central to modern combat, South Korea’s Block-I program underscores a strategic push to secure decisive advantages in the electromagnetic domain by the mid-2030s.

K-DEFENSE NEWS | Strategic Analysis Desk

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