Cheongung-III Project Bid Evaluation Virtually Concluded
LIG Nex1 Takes Charge of Cheongung-III System Development
Hanwha Responsible for Radar and Launcher
The bidding evaluation for the next-generation medium-range surface-to-air missile (M-SAM) "Cheongung-III" project, which aims to establish the "Korean-style Iron Dome," has been virtually concluded. Major K-defense companies such as LIG Nex1, Hanwha Systems, and Hanwha Aerospace each attempted to enter the specialized fields of their competitors, but the distribution remained the same as in the previous "Cheongung-II" project.
According to the defense industry on July 29, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration recently notified each company of their selection as the preferred negotiation partner for their respective fields in the Cheongung-III project. LIG Nex1 was selected as the contractor for system integration, engagement control center, and interceptor missiles; Hanwha Aerospace for the launcher; and Hanwha Systems for the multi-function radar. This structure is identical to that of the Cheongung-II development.
The Cheongung-III development project aims to create a system capable of intercepting missiles at altitudes twice as high as Cheongung-II (15 to 20 km). The goal is to have it operational by 2035, with an estimated investment of 2.83 trillion won.
Hanwha Systems, a company specializing in radar, secured the contract for the multi-function radar (MFR) of Cheongung-III. Hanwha Aerospace won the contracts for the launcher and warhead. In this bid, Hanwha Systems also competed for the engagement control system, while LIG Nex1 challenged for the multi-function radar business, each attempting to enter the other's main field. However, the final results assigned them the same roles as in the Cheongung-II project.
Hanwha Aerospace narrowly lost to LIG Nex1 in the guided missile sector, and LIG Nex1 was edged out by Hanwha Aerospace by a small margin in the launcher sector.
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A source in the defense industry stated, "After the objection period, once DAPA selects the preferred negotiation partners, formal contracts will be signed through negotiations with each company, and the project will enter full-scale implementation."
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