By Jeong Yong-soo, Lee Eun-joo | 17 June 2012 | Korea Joongang Daily
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U.S. forces in Korea are beefing up fire power with the procurement of surface-to-surface
long-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles and Multiple Launch Rocket
System (MLRS) artillery. The official’s comments come after James D. Thurman, commander
of U.S. Forces Korea, said he has requested the U.S. Department of Defense increase the
number of Apache helicopters deployed in the South.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=17231322.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/17231322.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The ATACMS is a tactical missile that is nicknamed “steel rain,” referring to how pieces of
missile fragments fell from the sky during the Iraq War. The missiles were arranged for the
Korean Army for the first time in 1999.
The MLRS is a multiple rocket launcher that can discharge 12 rockets in one minute.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=46774989.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/46774989.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
In addition to the ATACMS and MLRS, there is also a possibility that the U.S. forces in
Korea will procure other advanced weapons. The United States has recently sent officials
including Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Korea to
discuss overall military strength.
The U.S. Department of Defense recently agreed to sell 2,000 Mine Resistant Ambush
Protected (MRAP) vehicles to Korea that were used in Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently, the
Korean Army operates jeeps that have been redeveloped using Kia’s commercial Retona
jeeps produced in the 1980s and 1990s. They are known to have no protective devices
and are considered too old to operate in the mountainous front-line areas.
The Korean government is planning on purchasing MRAPs at $85,000 per vehicle,
significantly less than the typical $2 million price tag.
<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XZdMX5PsIxQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
U.S. forces in Korea are beefing up fire power with the procurement of surface-to-surface
long-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles and Multiple Launch Rocket
System (MLRS) artillery. The official’s comments come after James D. Thurman, commander
of U.S. Forces Korea, said he has requested the U.S. Department of Defense increase the
number of Apache helicopters deployed in the South.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=17231322.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/17231322.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The ATACMS is a tactical missile that is nicknamed “steel rain,” referring to how pieces of
missile fragments fell from the sky during the Iraq War. The missiles were arranged for the
Korean Army for the first time in 1999.
The MLRS is a multiple rocket launcher that can discharge 12 rockets in one minute.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=46774989.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/46774989.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
In addition to the ATACMS and MLRS, there is also a possibility that the U.S. forces in
Korea will procure other advanced weapons. The United States has recently sent officials
including Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Korea to
discuss overall military strength.
The U.S. Department of Defense recently agreed to sell 2,000 Mine Resistant Ambush
Protected (MRAP) vehicles to Korea that were used in Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently, the
Korean Army operates jeeps that have been redeveloped using Kia’s commercial Retona
jeeps produced in the 1980s and 1990s. They are known to have no protective devices
and are considered too old to operate in the mountainous front-line areas.
The Korean government is planning on purchasing MRAPs at $85,000 per vehicle,
significantly less than the typical $2 million price tag.
