[Militech] Haegung, a Premium Weapon at Sea, Packs Ultra-Precision Technology

On-Site Report from LIG D&A's Gimcheon House
Haegung Missiles for Malaysia Export Unveiled for the First Time

Haegung, considered one of the finest weapons at sea, was completed in 2018. LIG D&A has been mass-producing it since 2019, and it was deployed operationally by the Republic of Korea Navy starting in 2021. Photo by LIG D&A

The Haegung medium-range missile, designed to defend naval vessels, was exported to Malaysia this April. It was the first overseas export of the Haegung. The deal is worth a total of $94 million (about 140 billion won). Haegung is a ship-to-air missile that intercepts guided missiles and aircraft approaching naval vessels. The Malaysian Navy plans to equip three coastal patrol vessels with Haegung missiles. Haegung is considered a premium missile at sea. Development, led by the Agency for Defense Development, began in 2011 and was completed in 2018. LIG D&A began mass production in 2019, and the missile was deployed operationally by the South Korean Navy in 2021. We visited LIG D&A's Gimcheon House to see how Haegung missiles are mass-produced.

LIG D&A's Gimcheon House was surrounded by mountains on all sides, making it look like a fortress. The factory, which covers 200,000 pyeong, was filled with dedicated test facilities for guided missile and missile systems. Storage facilities for explosives and completed missiles had also been built. This was because the company had expanded the site as demand increased from the South Korean military and countries in the Middle East.

Comprehensive Safety Facilities Inside and Outside the Buildings

Walls 60 centimeters thick stood between the buildings to prevent further damage in the event of an explosion. We entered the factory to see the Haegung production facilities. We had to wear shoe covers over our shoes. Static electricity is a hazard in missile production. Anti-static pads had been installed throughout the factory, including on the floors and around electrical switches. Employees were busy assembling the seekers to be installed in the Haegung missiles. Stickers bearing numbers were attached to the missiles, indicating how many had been produced this year.

Microwave and Thermal Imaging Technology Used Together in the Seeker

The seekers at the front of the missiles were assembled entirely by hand. Haegung searches for targets using microwave (super-high-frequency) and infrared (thermal imaging) methods. Using both methods offers an advantage. Haegung's competitor in overseas markets is the VL MICA ship-to-air missile made by Europe's MBDA. MBDA's missile cannot use microwave and infrared simultaneously. It is equipped with only one method, so users have to choose a missile depending on the situation. Haegung has a faster launch speed and boasts a 100% hit rate.

Haegung searches for targets using microwave (super-high-frequency) and IR infrared (thermal imaging) methods. Photo: LIG D&A.

"We have shown the Haegung missiles being exported to Malaysia to the media for the first time," said Nam Gwangho, head of production. "As exports increase, we expect the factory's operating rate to rise from its current level."

Haegung's propulsion system is manufactured at Gimcheon House. Haegung is the first missile for which LIG D&A has manufactured the propulsion system in-house. The company decided to make the propulsion system itself as missile exports increased. The propulsion system goes through four manufacturing processes. These involve placing the propellant inside the combustion chamber, removing the metal core embedded in the middle, and finishing the propellant. If even a small air bubble forms during the process of inserting the propellant, it could burn abnormally after the missile is launched and cause it to fly erratically.

In-House Production of Propulsion Systems Begins with Haegung

Inspection was even more rigorous. It began with an inspection of the front section. The front of the missile was pushed into a chamber facility measuring 8 meters wide, 4 meters long, and 4 meters high. Hundreds of carbon-fiber electromagnetic-wave absorbers were attached to the chamber's interior walls, resembling thorns growing on branches. The inspection checks how the missile uses its seeker to track a target when a simulated target is assigned. The actuators are also checked during this process. Without activating the propulsion system, inspectors check whether the tail fins and the directional fins inside the propulsion system move properly.

When launched from a ship's vertical launch system (VLS), Haegung turns 360 degrees to change direction. This would be impossible with tail fins alone. Thanks to the directional fins inside the propulsion system, it can change direction in less than one second. In addition to inspecting the missile, the power systems are checked by inserting the missile into its launch tube. Not even the slightest error can be tolerated when defending a naval vessel.

Malaysia Also Considers Haeseong, an Offensive Weapon

Each Haegung set consists of four launch tubes. The Haegung missiles exported to Malaysia were deployed on a 2,500-ton vessel in four sets, for a total of 16 missiles. Malaysia, which has adopted Haegung, is also considering LIG D&A's ship-to-ship missile, Haeseong. It is considering acquiring offensive weapons in addition to defensive ones. Malaysia had initially planned to acquire Norwegian-made missiles, but has effectively given up on the plan as the delivery schedule has been delayed. Haeseong is deployed on South Korean Navy destroyers and frigates. It is launched from a ship, flies close to the sea surface, and then attacks enemy surface vessels. It differs from newly developed weapons in that it is a system that has completed development and mass production and has been in service for a long time.

"Producing a single missile requires a range of processes, but the more technical expertise we accumulate, the more consistently we can produce high-quality missiles," said Kim Sangun, head of the production team. "That is why overseas visitors are surprised by the speed of our domestic production."

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