Visiting the Cradle of Interceptor Missiles

[Gumi=Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system is designed to intercept North Korean missiles. It primarily targets North Korean missiles and guided missiles that fly at low altitudes and short ranges. KAMD, considered a key condition for the wartime operational control transfer, consists of early warning radars, Patriot interceptor missiles, the ballistic missile operation control center (KTMO-CELL), and medium-range (M-SAM) and long-range (L-SAM) surface-to-air guided weapons. To see the core medium-range surface-to-air guided weapon, Cheongung II, an interceptor missile, I visited the LIG Nex1 Gumi factory on the 11th.

Upon entering the main gate of LIG Nex1 located in the Gumi Industrial Complex, a strict security procedure awaited. To prevent cellphone photography, stickers were placed on cameras, and a full-body scan was conducted with a metal detector. Inside the factory, buildings of similar shapes and colors were clustered but distinguished by building numbers. Entering the assembly building marked L1, a heavy military truck stood firmly. To launch Cheongung II, the system consists of a multifunction radar (MFR) that detects missiles, a launcher, and a fire control center; this truck carried the control center. The control center was about 3 meters wide and 4 meters long, resembling a small container box. Going around to the rear of the military vehicle and entering the control center, computer servers were densely stacked on both sides, and three computer monitors were positioned at the front. It resembled a small study room.

Production Team Leader Lee Geon-woo hinted, "Although it is a small space, this is where all decisions for Cheongung II, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles and aircraft, are made."

The previous model of Cheongung II, Cheongung I, was developed for aircraft interception. Cheongung I’s warhead is a fragmentation type that explodes before hitting the aircraft to intercept it. However, Cheongung II was developed as a direct-hit type capable of intercepting not only aircraft but also ballistic missiles by hitting them directly.

Company officials led the reporter to the radar system comprehensive test site located at the highest point of the factory, promising to show radars that track aircraft and ballistic missiles. At the test site, the Counter-Battery Radar-II and Local Air Defense Radar were deployed, facing Pilbong Mountain ahead. The Counter-Battery Radar-II can detect shells from North Korea’s long-range artillery over 60 km away, and the Local Air Defense Radar can detect low-altitude penetrating aircraft beyond 60 km. These radars were undergoing test evaluations before delivery to the military. They were transmitting radio waves toward a radio reflection (BEACON) tower located 1.2 km across the Nakdong River. This test site can be set to detect up to 400 km, making it the largest radar system test site in Korea.

At the edge, the Cheongung II radar stood 10 meters high. Entering the radar control center, it was even smaller than the fire control center. However, true to a radar control center, the monitor displayed a circular radar screen like those seen in movies, tracking targets without losing them.

A company official said, "After Cheongung II is launched, the radar tracks the target, and as it approaches, Cheongung II’s seeker pursues the target until interception, resulting in a higher hit rate."

After covering the Cheongung II production line, upon arriving at the headquarters, flags of 16 countries that participated in the Korean War and the United Nations fluttered side by side. It was meant to remind us not to forget the pain of war and the gratitude toward the allied countries. It felt like this place was where a country with no proper weapons developed into a nation that exports weapons.

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