February 11, 2008 -- The South Korean Navy is seeking to build up to three new Aegis destroyers in addition to the three already planned under a multi-billion dollar defense buildup plan, officials said Monday.

"(The Navy) is working to secure additional Aegis destroyers. The number of additional ships to be built has yet to be fixed, but the Navy is expected to raise the need for additional destroyers within the first half of the year," an official said on condition of anonymity.

Under a 620-trillion won (US$670 billion) arms buildup plan, commonly known as Defense Reform 2020, the Navy is to have three Aegis ships by 2012, but the Navy claims it needs at least six to effectively defend the country from North Korean missiles and fighter jets in case of war.

The country's first Aegis destroyer was launched in May last year, making South Korea the fifth country in the world to own such a ship.

Developed by weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the Aegis weapons system is a high-tech, integrated weapons control system that allows ships to simultaneously detect over 1,000 surface, underwater and aerial targets within a 500-kilometer radius and destroy targets within a radius of 150 kilometers.

Officials and other experts believe an integrated network of at least two Aegis destroyers each in the East and West seas will enable the Navy to effectively intercept the communist North's ballistic missiles and aircraft.

The Navy has yet to file an official request for additional Aegis ships with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but it is said to have reported the plan to the National Assembly Defense Committee.

South Korea recently concluded negotiations with the United States to purchase long-range SM-6 missiles with a range of 400 kilometers to equip its Aegis destroyers.

The country's first Aegis destroyer, King Sejong, is set to be commissioned in 2009 after 18 months of test operations. A second ship is scheduled to be launched in 2010, followed by a third one in 2012.

Source: Yonhap English News