Cheonggeom Air-to-Ground Missile to Enter Mass Production in Q2

Developed Since 2022, Passed Quality Certification Firing Test

The quality certification firing test for the Cheonggeom air-to-ground guided missile, designed for the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH), has been completed. It is scheduled to be deployed in the second quarter of this year.

On the 10th, the small-armed helicopter air-to-ground guided missile "Cheonggeom" was launched during the quality certification shooting test conducted at Anheung Test Center in Taean, Chungnam.

According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration on March 12, the first quality certification firing test developed with domestic technology in 2022 is a procedure to verify whether the performance of the guided weapon system secured during the research and development phase can be identically implemented in actual mass-produced products. It is a core stage for final confirmation of quality and reliability before deployment.

The Cheonggeom, an air-to-ground guided missile for mounting on the LAH, is a development project acquired by Hanwha Aerospace in December 2021. Like the American Hellfire missile, it is a weapon system designed for precision strikes against enemy tanks. The name Cheonggeom means "Sword of the Sky," and its English abbreviation "TAIPERS" stands for "Tank Snipers." As the first domestically developed guided weapon for manned aerial platforms, it is expected to enter mass production starting next year following an investment of 150 billion won.

The Cheonggeom air-to-ground guided missile for LAH demonstrated its potential for defense exports by successfully carrying out a live-fire test in front of military officials from seven foreign countries in 2022.

According to the British military yearbook "Jane's Yearbook," the 35 kg Cheonggeom is mounted on the LAH and has a range of approximately 8 km. In particular, it can change targets after launch by utilizing a data link, and it can also conduct engagements in conjunction with the AH-64E Apache Guardian.

The Cheonggeom project was carried out in tandem with the development of the LAH, which serves as its launch platform. With the LAH now equipped with its primary armament—the Cheonggeom—the localization of air-to-ground guided missiles, which previously depended entirely on imports, has begun.

The Cheonggeom is equipped with a "dual-mode seeker" that utilizes both visible light and infrared images to enhance detection performance. The application of a wired data link enables launches beyond the line of sight. In addition to fire-and-forget capability, where the helicopter can perform evasive maneuvers after designating and launching at a target, it also offers fire-and-update functionality, further enhancing its guidance capabilities.

Its penetration capability has exceeded the operational performance requirements (ROC) set as the development goal. Compared to the Hellfire-II, the benchmark for helicopter air-to-ground guided missiles, the Cheonggeom offers superior guidance capabilities and similar penetration performance.

The Cheonggeom is the first weapon system of its kind to be equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. Through deep learning of over 800,000 frames of target imagery, it can automatically capture stationary targets without operator intervention in emergencies. This increases both the hit probability and operator survivability while reducing operation time.

Looking ahead, various derivative models of the Cheonggeom are expected. In addition to the LAH, development is underway to equip it on amphibious assault helicopters currently being pursued through domestic research and development. There are also plans under consideration to modify it for ground-to-ground use on platforms such as tanks, armored vehicles, and tactical vehicles. Further plans include extending its range, diversifying warhead types, applying wireless data links, and advancing its AI capabilities.

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