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CORRECTING MISCONCEPTION

A popular Filipino defense page, known as MaxDefense Philippines, raised concerns regarding South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration's recent announcement, which was covered by Navy Recognition, to upgrade ROK Armed Forces' existing Link-16 Tactical Data Link Network.

To provide a short backstory: the Philippine Navy ordered two frigates from South Korea, which is being built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). These ships will be using the 'Naval Shield' combat management system, which acts as the 'brain' for the entire ship, developed by Hanwha. There was a huge controversy from the Filipino side regarding this decision, but that's a whole different story.

Naval Shield CMS and the frigate's Link-P data link network, based on the Korean Link-K data link network, is expected to be compatible with US Link-16 by 2019 according to the manufacturer.

Back to the point: MaxDefense used DAPA's recent decision as cause for concern that South Korea's own Link-K network might be incompatible with US Link-16 and that South Korea had to resort to US to work around the issue.

This is false.

1) First of all, MaxDefense misidentified KDX-3 Batch-2 program with KDDX program. The former has to do with three new AEGIS-destroyers and the latter has to do with six new indigenous destroyers.

The recent announcement by DAPA dealt with KDDX program, not KDX-3 Batch-2; these are two completely separate projects. Neither of these have to do with Link-16-related announcement made by DAPA.

2) Any upgrades or modifications made to Link-16 has to go through the US regardless of nationality. Unless the Filipino government gives the US a political reason to not allow integration of Link-P with Link-16, there shouldn't be any issue.

3) MaxDefense asked the following:

"Why is there a need to acquire an enhanced encryption device to allow Link 16 to seamlessly communicate with Korean made systems? Can't Hanwha Systems engineer their own and will have to rely on American suppliers?"

There isn't. There is literally no mention of Link 16's compatibility with Link-K in neither the Navy Recognition article nor the primary source released by DAPA.

South Korea's reason for upgrading its Link-16 has nothing to do with what MaxDefense is implying. They're procuring new encryption modules because US is upgrading its own and to prepare for introduction of additional Link-16 platforms such as F-35A and A330 MRTT.

There is no correlation between South Korea's decision to upgrade its Link-16 and the compatibility between US & ROK systems. There is no indication that Philippine Navy's frigates will have issues with interfacing with Link-16. DAPA didn't mention it and Navy Recognition didn't mention it. This was all a mental gymnastic by MaxDefense.

South Korea is introducing more and more Link-K platforms every year, such as helicopters and warships, which will all be compatible with Link-16. Literally every major surface combatant of the ROK Navy except for KDX-3 destroyers, which were specifically designed to use AEGIS Combat Systems, will be relying on Link-K.

South Korea is a prominent US military ally, so they place heavy emphasis on interoperability with US forces. Link-K is no exception.

I say again, there is NO factual indication of compatibility issue bewteen Link-K(P) and Link-16.

I hope this cleared things up for our Filipino fans.~SKMilitary

#maxdefense #maxdefenseph #linkk #link16 #kddx