Recently a milestone was reached in the South Korean KDX-2 program for which Thales Nederland supplies two STIR 240 HP systems, one MW08 radar, the TACTICOS combat management system and the Combat Management Database.
At the end of July live firing tests were held with SM-2 missiles near Hawaii from the first of the three batch-1 ships. Thales-NL participated in these tests with technical support of the operation and registration. Two tests were performed: on the first day a short-range test with the MW08 and on the second day a long range test with the US LRR system. The test was a big success: the Tales NL fire control radar STIR 240 HP directed both missiles to their targets. STIR gave a kill assessment three seconds after impact.
The week before the test, this KDX-2, together with a KDX-1 vessel, participated in a Pacific Rim exercise. The navies of the United States, Canada and Japan were also represented. During the exercise both Korean ships sunk the decommissioned US Navy vessel Prioria that was deployed as a test target.