ROK (South Korea) Missile Projects

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/south-korean-ballistic-missiles.39131/
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/south-korean-cruise-missiles.42011/
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/hycore-south-korean-hypersonic-cruise-missile.39373/
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/south-korean-air-and-missile-defence-systems.42284/

Hello @Forest Green , above are the list of dedicated threads that might overlap with this thread (and as you've posted here, I guess you weren't aware or forgot about their existence). I hope you could use this thread to post about programmes that are not handled in those threads. Thank you.
 
overscan (PaulMM) said:
The ever-proliferating South Korea missile topics is a source of mystery to me. I'm tempted to just merge them all.
Click to expand...
Well, hopefully we wouldn't need any more new threads since those 3 threads that I've mentioned above virtually covers almost every topic related to South Korean development activities.... And those that aren't could be posted here.

I guess it can't be helped when a country gets very active in the field both domestically and internationally.
 
Forest Green said:
https://armyrecognition.com/news/na...o-revolutionize-coastal-defense-at-kadex-2024
Click to expand...
Funny thing about Poniard is that it was originally a joint US-Kor development called LOGIR : Low-cOst Guided Imaging Rocket.

In the early 2000s ROKA was interested in capabilities that could be used to stop mass North Korean amphibious assault using their air-cushioned vessels at western coastline of South Korea and their islands in Yellow Sea, all the while US was looking for a cheap but effective solution against FACs(often suicide bombing FACs) due to their experience operating in the Middle East (esp. USS Cole incident). The history of this project actually starts as a USN development programme and later transitioned into joint, international programme with ROK.

I'm not exactly sure why, but as the development progressed, USN interest waned and soon dropped out of the programme. SoKor proceeded alone and created Poniard and a 130mm version which is used on the PKMR boats. Seeing how effective Ukrainian USVs were in attacking Russian Navy ships, I guess they have a renewed interest in something better than APKWS on maritime conditions. It's quite funny and a bit ironic how they (USN) came back to evaluate something they conceived, developed and ditched 10 years ago.

I'm not sure if they would be interested in importing the design though, despite good results in the FCT. Obviously it's a very simple design which anyone could come up with, but it might be cheaper to just license it from LiG without the hassle of funding a separte development programme. The reason they turned this into a joint development programme with the Koreans was because of the cost, afterall.

It's also already being used by the Saudis and UAE as a defence against Iranian FACs, which is another plus.

I remember obtaining a document about the US-Kor cooperation in LOGIR programme somewhere in my hard drive. I'll try to find it.
 
Last edited:
Found it!

It's interesting how LOGIR was meant to be used as a primarily air-launched munition but Poniard as well as Biryong are both used as surface-launch today. US FCT was also surface-launched.
 

Attachments

  • st collab add 1.png
    st collab add 1.png
    899.1 KB · Views: 91
  • st collab add 11.png
    st collab add 11.png
    704.6 KB · Views: 60
  • st collab add 4.png
    st collab add 4.png
    2.9 MB · Views: 58
  • st collab add 2.png
    st collab add 2.png
    482.1 KB · Views: 50
  • st collab add 5.png
    st collab add 5.png
    1.6 MB · Views: 47
  • st collab add 3.png
    st collab add 3.png
    1,006.9 KB · Views: 48
  • st collab add 31.png
    st collab add 31.png
    2.1 MB · Views: 48
At IDEX 2025, Hanwha Aerospace is presenting the L-SAM, an upper-tier missile defense system designed to intercept ballistic threats at altitudes between 50 and 60 kilometers.
...
Hanwha Aerospace is also developing the L-SAM, an upper-tier missile defense system designed to intercept ballistic threats at altitudes between 50 and 60 kilometers. The system employs a hit-to-kill interception method and is designed to integrate with lower-tier air defense systems. The L-SAM Multi-Function Radar (MFR), developed by Hanwha Systems, provides tracking capabilities for various airborne threats, including ballistic missiles, aircraft, and cruise missiles. The engagement process involves multiple steps, from initial detection and tracking to missile launch and final interception, all managed through a command and control system. The L-SAM’s guidance and propulsion technology is optimized for high-altitude interception with precision engagement capabilities. Following development and testing phases expected to conclude in late 2024, mass production is planned for 2027. Hanwha Aerospace is also working on the L-SAM II, a next-generation system under a state project with the ADD. Expected to be completed by 2028, L-SAM II aims to increase defensive coverage by a factor of three to four compared to existing systems, with expanded interception capabilities at higher altitudes.
Click to expand...
https://armyrecognition.com/news/ar...so developing,lower-tier air defense systems.
Photo's are my. If it need, I can make new photos at friday.
 

Attachments

  • 62-4.jpg
    62-4.jpg
    215.4 KB · Views: 47
  • 62-3.jpg
    62-3.jpg
    199.8 KB · Views: 44
  • 62-2.jpg
    62-2.jpg
    168.7 KB · Views: 41
  • 62-1.jpg
    62-1.jpg
    238.6 KB · Views: 47
some people lack skills to search for simplest of information on internet. Besides, wrong thread.
 
Odysseus1980 said:
Hae Ryong anti-ship missile was developed in 1980's, used a semi active laser guidance system. Never entered production, but sounds interesting program.

Only reference of that missile I know is into this link. Will appreciate any sources and photos of this unknown project.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSM-700K_C-Star
Click to expand...
It was a missile developed specifically to target North Korean FACs and other littoral threats, akin to Penguin or Gabriel. Max range of around 10km. After the cancellation of the development of Haeryong, ROKN continued to rely of gun-heavy patrol ships (PCC and FF) as well as their own FACs (PK) to counter North Korean littoral threats until early 2010s.

Today the role of this missile is filled by Bigoong (called Poniard for the export market) and Biryong, 70mm and 130mm IR guided rockets, which are direct results of the LOGIR programme mentioned earlier in this thread. They chose IR guidance due to the lessons learnt from Haeryong.

Photos from : https://blog.naver.com/PostView.naver?blogId=neobio&logNo=220648131591
 

Attachments

  • Img_2025_07_08_17_30_55.jpeg
    Img_2025_07_08_17_30_55.jpeg
    111.4 KB · Views: 20
  • Img_2025_07_08_17_30_54.jpeg
    Img_2025_07_08_17_30_54.jpeg
    54.3 KB · Views: 19
  • Img_2025_07_08_17_30_47.jpeg
    Img_2025_07_08_17_30_47.jpeg
    206.6 KB · Views: 17
  • Img_2025_07_08_17_30_40.jpeg
    Img_2025_07_08_17_30_40.jpeg
    281.9 KB · Views: 44
Last edited:

Similar threads

Back
Top Bottom