Gumi-si and LIG Nex1 Reborn as Core Forces in National Missile Defense System
Published 30 Jan.2024 16:01(KST)
Updated 05 Aug.2025 08:38(KST)
LIG Nex1 Completes Assembly and Inspection Facility Dedicated to Artillery and Mortar Interception System
Guided Weapon System, Assembly and Inspection Facility, Monitoring and Safety Management System
On the 30th, Gumi City in Gyeongbuk held a completion ceremony for the dedicated assembly and inspection facility for the long-range artillery interception system at the LIG Nex1 Gumi House.
The ceremony was attended by Shin Ik-hyun, President of LIG Nex1; Kim Jang-ho, Mayor of Gumi; National Assembly members Koo Ja-geun and Kim Young-sik; Yoon Jae-ho, Chairman of the Gumi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; as well as officials from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Agency for Defense Development, Army Headquarters, Air Force Missile Command, and military representatives.
This event was organized to commemorate the completion of the dedicated facility by the lead institution and prototype company developing the long-range artillery interception system, and to pledge the successful completion of this nationwide mission to protect the airspace of the Republic of Korea.
The long-range artillery interception system is a state-of-the-art weapon system under development, equipped with detection/tracking capabilities and engagement control functions for high-speed multi-target response, designed to protect national and military critical facilities from threats posed by North Korean long-range artillery.
Led by the Agency for Defense Development, the exploratory development is underway, and LIG Nex1, responsible for system integration for prototype development, plans to contribute to the successful development of the long-range artillery interception system, a core force of the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system, based on its accumulated technology and know-how from participating in the development of precision-guided weapons including Cheongung II. LIG Nex1 aims to solidify its leading position in guided weapon system integration.
The dedicated assembly and inspection facility for the long-range artillery interception system, completed with an investment of 7 billion KRW, is equipped with optimized equipment and facilities including guided weapon system assembly, inspection areas, monitoring, and safety management systems.
It is expected to serve as a key facility for stable quality control even after the completion of the long-range artillery interception system development, and can be utilized through mass production in the future, contributing to early operational deployment.
Gumi City is advancing a defense innovation cluster project specializing in manned and unmanned complex defense systems, including the construction of the Nakdong River unmanned surface vehicle testbed, through cooperation with LIG Nex1, a K-defense anchor company. The city will also provide administrative support based on the investment memorandum of understanding signed with LIG Nex1 on September 28, 2022 (including a 110 billion KRW investment for factory expansion), supporting urban planning changes and radar test building expansions to revitalize the local defense ecosystem and economy.
Shin Ik-hyun, President of LIG Nex1, stated, “As the nation’s top guided weapon specialist company, we will work even harder with a sense of mission to develop and mass-produce the premium long-range artillery interception system.”
Mayor Kim Jang-ho said, “We thank the executives and employees of LIG Nex1 who lead community contribution, local economic revitalization, and self-reliant defense,” adding, “Based on Gumi City’s active support for local defense companies, we hope LIG Nex1 grows into a world-class company with overwhelming competitive advantage, and Gumi City leaps forward as the ‘K-Defense New Industry Capital.’”
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