Hanwha Aerospace Signs Second 225.4 Billion Won Cheongeom Mass Production Contract

Hanwha Aerospace has signed a second mass production contract worth 225.4 billion won with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration for the Cheongeom air-to-ground guided missile for Light Armed Helicopters (LAH).

On December 3, Hanwha Aerospace announced that, including last year’s first mass production contract for Cheongeom worth 162.3 billion won, the company has secured a total production volume valued at 387.7 billion won. The second batch of mass-produced Cheongeom missiles and launchers is scheduled for delivery to the military by 2028. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration is also considering equipping the Cheongeom on amphibious assault helicopters currently under development, suggesting additional business opportunities in the future.

The Cheongeom is the first domestically developed air-to-ground guided missile. Led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and with Hanwha Aerospace participating as the prototype manufacturer, development was completed in 2022. Equipped with a dual-mode seeker, the Cheongeom can be operated both day and night. Its wired data link ensures immunity to enemy jamming attacks. The missile’s target can be adjusted after launch, allowing it to adapt to changing battlefield conditions.

Hanwha Aerospace is diversifying the launch platforms for the Cheongeom, originally developed for helicopter deployment, so that it can also be operated from manned or unmanned ground vehicles. The company is also developing the Cheongeom-L, a smaller and lighter version, so that it can be mounted on turrets of infantry fighting vehicles and tanks or operated directly by infantry.

A Hanwha Aerospace representative stated, “We will support the stable mass production of the Cheongeom, diversify its platforms to contribute to the diversification of the Republic of Korea’s military capabilities, and actively pursue customized export opportunities for our clients.”

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