The History of Cheongung, the Missile That Stopped Iran [Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club]

Developed to Replace the US HAWK Missile
Core Cheongung Technologies Transferred from Russia

Following the recent Iranian airstrike, attention is focusing on Cheongung (Cheongung), one of the leading "K-defense" weapons. Cheongung was developed to replace the US-made HAWK, which had served as the Air Force’s main surface-to-air guided weapon. The HAWK was known as “Cheolmae” in Korea, and during development, Cheongung was called “Cheolmae II,” but its official name later became Cheongung.

Cheongung-II has been upgraded to intercept ballistic missiles as well as enemy aircraft.

It was Russia that Korea turned to for assistance in replacing US-made weapons. At that time, the Korean government proceeded with development through a technical support agreement with a Russian defense company, separate from the “Bukom” project. As a result, Cheongung was first deployed to the Korean military in 2019. With the development of Cheongung, Korea became the sixth country in the world—after the United States, Russia, France, and a handful of other advanced nations—to possess domestically developed medium-range surface-to-air missiles.

Cheongung-I Targeted Mid-Altitude Aircraft

The original Cheongung-I was designed to shoot down enemy aircraft flying at mid-altitudes of around 20 kilometers. Most of the core technologies, including software and the multifunction radar installed in Cheongung, have been localized. The Cheongung radar can intercept up to six enemy aircraft simultaneously, with rapid direction changes to minimize exposure. The warhead uses both impact fuzes, which detonate upon contact, and proximity fuzes, which explode when near a target.

Cheongung has since evolved. The next version, Cheongung-II, was upgraded to intercept not only enemy aircraft but also ballistic missiles. Development began in 2012, led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), and Cheongung-II was judged combat-ready in June 2017. A year earlier, in 2016, it achieved a 100 percent hit rate in more than 10 test firings at the ADD Anheung Test Center. LIG Nex1 handled the production and systems integration for Cheongung-II’s interceptor missiles, Hanwha Systems developed the radar, and Hanwha Aerospace was responsible for battery production.

Independent Development of Cheongung-II Brings Price Competitiveness

Cheongung-II has also opened the door to exports. In July 2021, representatives from the UAE Air Force observed quality certification firing tests and directly verified its performance. That July and August, series-produced units scheduled for delivery to the military underwent interception tests against ballistic missiles and aircraft at the ADD Anheung Test Center, achieving direct hits in both tests. The UAE subsequently entered full-fledged purchase negotiations, which ultimately led to a contract.

Globally, only the United States and Korea have developed interception weapon systems independently. Israel and European countries have developed theirs in collaboration with the United States.

This independent development has made exports easier. Compared to the US Patriot (PAC-3) and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, as well as Israel’s air defense weapons, Cheongung-II is considered highly competitive in terms of price. While a single THAAD missile costs about 15 billion won and a PAC-3 missile costs approximately 4–6 billion won, a Cheongung-II missile is priced at about 1.5–1.7 billion won per unit.

Unique Vertical Launch Method

Cheongung-II’s technological capabilities are also exceptional. Its radar system incorporates advanced detection and tracking technology to target high-speed ballistic missiles. The interceptor uses a hit-to-kill method for direct strikes, enabling it to respond to enemy aircraft or ballistic missiles approaching from any direction.

Surface-to-air guided missile Cheongung at the 76th Armed Forces Day ceremony Photo by Yonhap News

The system also features a “cold launch” method, in which the missile is pushed upward from the launcher before changing direction in the air to head towards its target. Since the launcher does not need to be rotated toward the target’s direction, hit probability increases. The absence of flames during launch prevents the firing location from being exposed, thereby enhancing the reliability and survivability of the weapon system. The “vertical ejection launch” technology was developed independently by Korea, making it the second country in the world after Russia to achieve this.

The Korean military plans to develop Cheongung-III in the future. Compared to Cheongung-II, Cheongung-III will see significant improvements in interception altitude, detection range, and simultaneous engagement capability against both enemy aircraft and ballistic missile threats. The government plans to invest approximately 868.8 billion won by 2030 to complete system development under the leadership of the Agency for Defense Development.

Cheongung-III Scheduled for Development by 2030

Hanwha Systems will develop the “eyes” of Cheongung-III—a multifunction radar (MFR). The Cheongung-III multifunction radar will employ Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology. AESA radar is a state-of-the-art system capable of simultaneously performing diverse missions, such as detecting and tracking high-speed ballistic missiles and aircraft at long distances. It features a wider detection range and faster response than conventional mechanical radars, enabling simultaneous detection, tracking, and engagement of multiple targets.

Once Cheongung-III is placed in service through the system development project, it is expected to match the performance of the US Patriot (PAC-3), significantly enhancing the lower-tier terminal-phase interception capability of the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system. Together with Cheongung-II, L-SAM, and L-SAM-II, it will complete Korea’s indigenous multi-layered air defense network within the atmosphere.

A military official stated, “In terms of cost, both acquisition and operation/maintenance expenses will be reduced, and with the participation of domestic companies, not only will there be significant economic and industrial ripple effects, but advances in defense exports will also greatly contribute to the development of the defense industry.”

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