L3 Communications To Supply $46 Million Worth Laser Designators To S. Korea

South Korea is buying L-3 Communications’ Scarab Thermal Imager Laser Designator (TILD-A) for aerial laser-guided bombs.

According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), L-3 Communications has been selected for a $46 million contract over the other two competitors; the Ground Laser Target Designator (GLTD)-III built by Northrop Grumman and the Portable Laser Lightweight Designator developed by Israel’s Elbit Systems.

“After five months of evaluations since April, the Scarab TILD-A of L-3 Communications was found to have better performances and price competitiveness than the others,” DAPA spokesperson was quoted as saying by Defense News. “With the deployment of the laser target designator, the fighter aircraft’s target acquisition and precision striking capability will increase to a greater extent.”

The South Korean Air Force introduced hundreds of GBU-28 bunker-busting bombs for its F-15K fleet through the U.S. foreign military sales program sales with the aim of neutralizing key North Korean targets, including missile sites and underground nuclear facilities. The contract was valued $67 million.

The service also plans to buy either Raytheon’s GBU-50 or Boeing’s GBU-54 munition to strike North Korean mobile missile launchers.