[Militech] Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II, Set to Replace US Weapons, Unveiled to Media for the First Time

On-Site Report from LIG D&A Gumi Plant 3
Prototype for Test Launches to Begin Production This Month

Fleet Shared Guided Missile-II is a guided weapon designed to intercept enemy aircraft or cruise missiles, and this is the first time it has been publicly revealed by the media. Photo by LIG D&A

The Korean cargo ship "Namu," operated by HMM and anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, was attacked last month by Iranian anti-ship missiles. As Iran's attacks continued, fear among ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz reached its peak. As of July 14, 2026, Korean ships remain in the Strait of Hormuz. There are a total of 17 Korean crew members aboard the five vessels, including the "HMM Namu," which is currently undergoing repairs in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Anti-ship missiles can deliver decisive and fatal blows to ships, which is why warships are equipped with intercept missiles. The intercept missiles used by the Korean Navy are also evolving. To explore the advances in K-defense's intercept missile technology, we visited LIG D&A's Gumi Plant 3.

Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II Unveiled to Korean Media for the First Time

The Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II assembly plant, completed in March this year, consists of four rooms, including an inspection room and a testing chamber. Each room is about the size of a badminton court. The walls separating the rooms appeared to be over 60 centimeters thick. These are blast-proof walls, designed to prevent accidents since explosives are handled here. The factory's ceiling outside the rooms reaches up to 8 meters in height. Around the area, 30 types of assembly stands and jigs are lined up. In the center of the factory, Korea's first Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II was being assembled.

This is the first time the Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II has been disclosed to the Korean media. The Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II is a guided weapon designed to intercept enemy aircraft or cruise missiles. It is approximately 6 meters long and divided into three sections: the front houses various guidance and electronic devices, functioning as the missile's "brain"; the body contains the propulsion and ammunition; and the rear is equipped with a booster. Bumsoo Kim, Principal Researcher at LIG D&A, said, "It takes 20 stages to assemble the Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II, requiring a period of three months," adding, "The final assembly stage is so sensitive that over 20 people are involved."

The HAE RAE Gongyu Do Tan-II is scheduled to begin full-scale production this month and will replace the U.S.-made SM-2. It will be equipped starting with the future Korean Destroyer eXperimental (KDDX). Photo by LIG D&A

The Korean Navy already possesses intercept missiles, including the Standard Missile (SM)-2, SM-3, and SM-6 fleet surface-to-air missiles. All of these are American-made weapons. Despite their high cost, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) have been difficult, and production periods have been long. As a result, domestic production became necessary, and in 2024, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration developed the Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II to replace the SM-2. The prototype for test launches of the Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II is scheduled to begin production this month, just two years after the contract. After more than ten test launches and once operational deployment is achieved, it will be equipped on the next-generation Korean destroyer (KDDX). LIG D&A was able to quickly localize the Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II thanks to the expertise accumulated from developing key air defense systems such as the long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM), Cheongung, and LAMD.

Equipped with Advanced Third-Generation Semiconductor Technology

As technology has accumulated, performance has improved. The most notable advancement is the high-precision seeker. Cheongung uses a first-generation high-precision seeker, L-SAM uses a second-generation version, and the Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II is classified as a third-generation seeker incorporating semiconductor technology. While the first generation could detect and intercept missiles 1.4 meters in length, the Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II can intercept missiles as small as 0.3 meters. Its processing speed has also increased dramatically. To intercept a missile, the Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II must first predict the missile's speed and direction. It tracks and predicts the intercept path 100 times per second—five times faster than the American-made SM-2.

Upon entering the missile testing area, there were thick iron plates measuring 2 meters by 2 meters. This is a device used to test vibrations by placing the Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II on it. The missile flies at Mach 5 during flight and must withstand up to 17G to maintain normal operation. In everyday life, humans experience 1G (with "G" representing the acceleration of gravity, or one times gravity); riding a Viking ride can reach up to 2G, and fighter pilots can experience over 7.3G.

Five Times Faster Processing Than the American-Made SM-2

The Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II is expected to be installed on the KDDX alongside other guided weapons, such as "Hong Sang Eo," which eliminates enemy submarines from long distances, and "Haeryong," which precisely strikes ground targets. Until now, Korean Navy warships used American-made Vertical Launching Systems (VLS) to launch guided missiles from ships and submarines. When equipped with American VLS, only American missiles could be launched. Starting with the destroyer Wang Geon (DDH-978), Korean-designed vertical launching systems (K-VLS) have been installed, enabling all domestically produced missiles to be equipped. The K-VLS for KDDX has been expanded to 180% of previous systems, the cell length is 120% longer, and weapon load capacity has been increased by 185%. Its flame suppression capability has also been greatly strengthened.

Kwanbeom Choi, Director of the Missile Research Institute at LIG D&A, said, "When we export warships, they must be equipped with domestic launchers, which necessitates the purchase of K-intercept missiles," adding, "We will continue to develop a range of missiles, including ballistic missile interceptors for the Fleet Surface-to-Air Missile-II, thereby contributing to the export of K-defense systems."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.