Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

[MND] GOP light, getting three times brighter

Completed 50-kilometer section, with all sections to be replaced by 2019
Reduced budget with ‘ESCO’ investment using private company

The security operations environment of the front lines, which is the last bastion of our national security protection, has been improved dramatically.

On December 29, the MND announced that “Outpost systems of General Outpost (GOP) barbed-wire fences have been replaced with Light Emitting Diode (LED) floodlighting, dramatically improving the security operations environment.”

Sodium lamps are currently installed along with the 250-kilometer-long Southern Limit Line barbed-wire fences. Compared to LED floodlighting, the power consumption-to-illuminance is low, and they can negatively affect the environment as they contain mercury.

Accordingly, the MND chose 3 divisions whose outpost systems were severely superannuated relatively among GOP barbed wire fences, and carried out the replacement project. An approximately 50-kilometer section has been completed this year, and by 2019, the replacement of all sections of the outpost systems of the barbed-wire fences are planned to be finished.

The installed sodium lamps enabled only objects around the boundary iron fences to be distinguished. However, the replacement LED floodlighting is three times brighter than the sodium lamps, making objects visible in a wider area. The MND was also able to reduce maintenance fees needed for 300-400 annual replacements of sodium lamps and stabilizers, a savings amounting to 30 million won. Creating an eco-friendly operations environment is an additional benefit.

In particular, by applying ’Energy Service Company (ESCO) investment business’, the MND was able to catch two rabbits of reducing the defense budget as well as creating private sector jobs. The ESCO investment business is a method that replaces the outpost lamps first with the assets of private companies that have outstanding technology, and pays back the working expenses with electric charge saving cost that is enabled by using high efficiency products with low power consumption.

systems are brighter, our military will be able to improve its mission capability. We’ll contribute to establishing a strong security posture through progression of the project to replace the outpost systems of barbed-wire fences according to plan.”

By Byeong-No, Yun < trylover@dema.mil.kr >
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