76mm

South Korea has begun full-scale production of domestically developed 76mm armor-piercing high-explosive (APHE) shells designed to penetrate and destroy enemy warships from within, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The Defense Acquisition Program Administration held a kick-off meeting on October 28 at the Pungsan Technology Research Institute in Daejeon to mark the start of the mass-production project. Representatives from the Republic of Korea Navy and the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ) attended the meeting to discuss production planning, inspection procedures, and agency responsibilities. According to DAPA, the new ammunition can pierce an enemy ship’s hull and explode after a short delay, inflicting damage deep inside the vessel’s structure and vital systems. Unlike conventional high-explosive rounds that detonate upon impact, the new APHE shells use a delayed-action fuze designed to activate once the projectile penetrates the target. The agency said the program will run through 2028 with an investment of 44.2 billion won (approximately $30.8 million). The shells are expected to enter service with the Navy next year following quality assurance tests led by DTaQ. Initial deployment will include installation on Yoon Youngha-class fast combatants and Chamsuri-class patrol boats, which form the backbone of South Korea’s coastal defense fleet. Officials said the weapon’s delayed-fuse design allows it to damage internal fire control systems, power modules, and command equipment on enemy ships—capabilities that conventional shells cannot achieve. The ammunition’s development and serial production also reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, as armor-piercing rounds of this class were previously imported from overseas manufacturers. Multiple 76mm rounds sit in the MK-75 gun magazine before a gun exercise onboard USCGC Mohawk in the Atlantic Ocean, Sept. 1, 2022. (Photo by Jessica Fontenette) Kim Ho-sung, head of DAPA’s Firepower Systems Division, said in a statement, “We are proud to have developed and launched mass production of the 76mm armor-piercing high-explosive shell with our own technology. Through thorough production management, we aim to deliver the shell successfully to the military and contribute to defense exports as well.” The introduction of domestically produced APHE shells represents a step forward for South Korea’s naval modernization strategy. By enhancing the lethality of its high-speed vessels, the Navy expects to improve its ability to respond to maritime threats in contested waters, particularly in the Yellow Sea and along the southern maritime border. The DAPA program also aligns with South Korea’s broader initiative to expand defense exports and strengthen indigenous manufacturing capacity. The transition from research and development to large-scale production underscores a growing emphasis on technological self-reliance and export competitiveness in the naval weapons sector. Deliveries to the Navy are expected to begin next year following final acceptance testing, DAPA said, with the new ammunition projected to play a central role in improving South Korea’s maritime strike and deterrence posture.

76mm

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76mm

South Korea begins production of 76mm APHE naval shells

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