en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIM-161_Standard_Missile_3
2 corrections found
Ordered in October 2018.
South Korea did not place an SM-3 order in October 2018. Its defense ministry said in November 2018 that no decision had been made, and DAPA approved the acquisition plan only in April 2024.
Full reasoning
This date is contradicted by South Korea's own government record.
- On November 26, 2018, a South Korean Ministry of National Defense spokesperson said the SM-3 purchase was "not a decided matter" and that "nothing concrete has been decided yet".
- Then, on April 26, 2024, Yonhap reported that DAPA's weapons program review committee approved the plan to acquire SM-3s by 2030.
- A later April 2026 DAPA-related report still described SM-3 as an approved acquisition plan for future procurement, not something ordered back in 2018.
So the article's statement that South Korea "Ordered in October 2018" is wrong on both the timing and the status of the program.
3 sources
- 국방부 일일 정례브리핑 - 부처 브리핑 | 브리핑룸 | 대한민국 정책브리핑
2018.11.26 ... 'SM-3 구매에 관해서는 아직 결정된 바가 없습니다' ('As for the purchase of the SM-3, nothing has been decided yet').
- S. Korea to acquire SM-3 shipborne missiles by 2030 | Yonhap News Agency
DAPA said its weapons program review committee approved the plan to acquire the SM-3s through government-to-government foreign military sales by 2030.
- DAPA to Expedite Deployment of 'Korean Iron Dome' LAMD by 2029 - The Asia Business Daily
Specifically, four agenda items were reviewed and approved ... the purchase plan for maritime ballistic missile interceptor missiles (SM-3) ... to be acquired through a government-to-government Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement.
Republic of Korea Navy
South Korea was not an SM-3 operator here. Official and industry sources describe SM-3s as delivered to the U.S. and Japanese navies, while South Korea's acquisition remained a future procurement program.
Full reasoning
Listing the Republic of Korea Navy as a current user/operator is inconsistent with the available official record.
- RTX's Raytheon SM-3 page says more than 400 interceptors have been delivered to U.S. and Japanese navies, and separately describes South Korea nowhere as an existing operator.
- Yonhap reported on April 26, 2024 that South Korea will buy SM-3 interceptors and that DAPA approved a plan to acquire them by 2030.
- An April 2026 DAPA-related report still described SM-3 as a purchase plan for the King Jeongjo-class destroyers, with funding running through 2031, which indicates procurement was still underway rather than already fielded.
That means the Republic of Korea Navy should not be listed as an already using/operating service here.
3 sources
- SM-3® Interceptor | Raytheon
The program has over 30 successful space intercepts, and more than 400 interceptors have been delivered to U.S. and Japanese navies.
- S. Korea to acquire SM-3 shipborne missiles by 2030 | Yonhap News Agency
South Korea will buy Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) shipborne interceptors ... DAPA said its weapons program review committee approved the plan to acquire the SM-3s ... by 2030.
- DAPA to Expedite Deployment of 'Korean Iron Dome' LAMD by 2029 - The Asia Business Daily
The purchase plan for SM-3 missiles for the King Jeongjo-class Aegis destroyers ... was also approved. A total of 753 billion won will be invested in the project from this year through 2031.