Development of Interceptor Missile to Counter 'Pull-up Maneuver' KN-23 Underway

Long-range surface-to-air missiles (L-SAM) II and medium-range surface-to-air missiles (M-SAM) III, capable of intercepting North Korea's ballistic missiles and aircraft, are being developed. The plan is to establish a more dense, multi-layered integrated defense system.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 25th, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration held the 153rd Defense Acquisition Program Promotion Committee meeting and reviewed and approved the 'L-SAM II Project Promotion Basic Strategy' and the 'M-SAM Block-III Project Promotion Basic Strategy' respectively. The development periods for the long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM) II and the medium-range surface-to-air missile (M-SAM) III are 2035 and 2034, respectively.

Approximately 2.71 trillion won will be invested in L-SAM II, which is an upgraded version of L-SAM, known as the Korean-style Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). L-SAM can intercept targets flying at altitudes of 40 to 70 km. The interception altitude of the new L-SAM II is reported to be higher than the existing L-SAM (interception altitude 50 to 70 km), reaching within 50 to 100 km, and its missile defense range is about three times wider.

Unlike typical ballistic missiles that follow a parabolic trajectory while descending, aerodynamic missiles maintain their flight path using aerodynamic forces generated by wings attached to the body.

North Korea's KN-23 series ballistic missiles are capable of pull-up maneuvers, a flight and irregular maneuver characteristic. There are observations that these missiles can evade the South Korea-U.S. interception network, and the core of the L-SAM II project is to secure a guided missile system that intercepts these missiles during their gliding phase.

Once these weapon systems are operational, the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) will be virtually completed by combining the surface-to-air missiles responsible for altitudes of 15 to 40 km, such as the Patriot (PAC-3) and Cheongung-II, with the U.S. Forces Korea's THAAD, which covers 40 to 150 km.

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