Cheonryong Succeeds in Flight Test... Deployment Nears [Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club]

LIG D&A Accelerates Long-Range Air-to-Ground Missile Development
Aims for Long-Range Air-to-Air and Modular Missile Projects

The next-generation long-range air-to-ground missile (guided missile) "Cheonryong," currently being developed with domestic technology, has successfully completed its technical flight test. A technical flight test is conducted to verify that a guided missile, once separated from a fighter jet, flies normally under various flight conditions.

According to military officials on September 23, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) conducted its second technical flight test at the Haemi test site on September 17, following the previous test in June. The project has now completed its fourth test; if it successfully passes three more upcoming flight tests, it will be mounted on Korean fighter jets such as the KF-21, enabling long-range precision strikes on enemy core facilities.

The long-range air-to-ground missile development project aims to create a Korean missile system. The first phase of the project involved importing Taurus missiles from Germany's MBDA, while the second phase, scheduled through 2028, will focus on indigenous development. Mass production is planned to begin in 2029, with operational deployment expected in the early 2030s. The Korean long-range air-to-ground missile serves as a "bunker buster" capability to target North Korean leadership. The military plans to initially import around 260 Taurus missiles while domestically developing an additional 300 to 400 units using Korean technology.

Cheonryong is equipped with a precision guidance system, capable of highly accurate strikes within a margin of error of one to two meters. Its stealth features have also been enhanced. By flying at low altitudes and utilizing both a stealth airframe and special coating, the probability of detection by enemy radar is significantly reduced. Despite a smaller size and lower weight, the missile boasts increased destructive power. It has a range of over 600 kilometers and about 90% of the penetration capability of previous models. Its reduced size allows it to be fitted on existing Air Force fighter jets including the FA-50 light attack aircraft, KF-16, and F-15K.

LIG D&A, the prototype developer, plans to apply the accumulated technology from the long-range air-to-ground missile project to the development of long-range air-to-air missiles (LRAAM) as well. The LRAAM development project is expected to select a contractor next month, with a project scale reaching about 1.9 trillion won. After negotiations with the preferred bidder on all contract details, the final contract is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Subsequently, LIG D&A has expressed intent to participate in the development of hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles, which reach speeds above Mach 5, as well as blackout missiles designed to disable enemy power grids—both currently being pursued by the Air Force. The "Ure" tactical surface-to-surface guided missile, currently operated by the Army, can be modified into an air-launched ballistic missile, allowing for rapid destruction of enemy air defenses and critical facilities from long distances. In addition, LIG D&A aims to develop modular missiles that can be used by unmanned combat aerial vehicles to meet the Air Force's future operational needs.

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