If South Korea agrees to supply weapons to Ukraine, there are a number of benefits that will affect defense aid, including the cost of labor and weapons themselves.
This was reported by Radio Liberty.
In particular, the article notes that in 2023, despite a drop in export turnover, South Korea managed to expand the number of buyer countries and types of exported weapons:
"In 2022, the turnover from South Korean arms exports reached $17.3 billion, and in 2023, despite a drop in this figure to $14 billion, South Korea managed to expand the number of buyer countries from 4 to 12 and the types of exported weapons from 6 to 12. In 2024, South Korea plans to reach a turnover of $20 billion in arms exports."
One of the reasons for this success, according to Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) analysts, is the low cost of labor, even among highly skilled workers in the military-industrial complex, compared to Western countries. This also affects the next advantage of the South Korean military-industrial complex over its Western competitors - the lower cost of weapons.
"For example, the latest American export tanks Abrams M1a2 M1a2 SepV3 cost about $24 million, while the Korean M2 Black Panther will cost the buyer $18 million (prices include production, delivery and maintenance)," the report says.
The article also notes that South Korea may consider the possibility of transferring the following weapons to Ukraine, which are presented in the country:
- M60 machine guns
- American TOW-2 anti-tank weapons and Soviet Metis-M;
- 107-mm mortars and a significant amount of ammunition for them;
- some ammunition for 60-mm and 81-mm mortars;
- 203-mm ammunition suitable for Soviet 2C7 Pion heavy self-propelled guns;
- American howitzers from the World War II, which are stored in South Korean warehouses;
- Soviet Igla and French Mistral man-portable air defense systems, as well as recently retired American MIM-23 Hawk interceptor missiles;
- about 60 American-made M163 Vulcan anti-aircraft guns
- 35 T-80U tanks and 80 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles;
- American tanks M48 Patton;
- K200 ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS.
Training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 aircraft in South Korea remains a likely option. In addition, the South Korean authorities may finally allow third countries to resell Korean-made 155-mm artillery ammunition to Ukraine.
Earlier, we reported on a new $150 million aid package for Ukraine from the United States.