South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on Wednesday that it has replaced all outdated foreign-made tactical air navigation (TACAN) equipment with the latest domestically produced equipment, fully integrating it into military operations.
TACAN, often called the “Lighthouse of the Sky,” is a crucial military navigation aid that provides aircraft with precise position and directional information. This system allows pilots to determine their distance and bearing from TACAN transmitters, enabling accurate navigation to specific locations.
Since 2019, DAPA has invested approximately $2.1 million to complete the installation and operational deployment of fixed TACAN systems developed by the Korea Airports Corporation across all Air Force bases.
The newly deployed TACAN systems incorporate cutting-edge information technology and wireless communication capabilities, meeting rigorous military performance and safety standards. These upgrades include enhanced maintenance features such as visual and auditory alarms, significantly improving operational efficiency. With the complete domestication of TACAN technology, the South Korean military can now handle all technical support, operations, and maintenance in-house, including depot-level maintenance.
The Korea Airports Corporation, which developed the TACAN system, achieved a $1.4 million export deal with India in 2021, leveraging its performance record with the South Korean Air Force. The company also succeeded in developing a ship-based mobile TACAN system in 2024. Throughout this process, DAPA actively collaborated to facilitate the export to India, coordinating with the Air Force to secure frequencies—an essential requirement for research and development—thereby reducing development time and costs.
Jung Kyu Heon, Director of DAPA’s Space Command and Communications Business Division, stated, “The completion of localization for this domestic TACAN system is expected to enhance the Air Force’s operational capabilities and reliability in aerial missions. The government will continue to provide necessary support and cooperation, within its capacity, to further the development and export expansion of TACAN equipment.”
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