The Power of the Maritime Weapons Trio: Haegung, Haeryong, and Haeseong

by Yang Nakgyu

Published 13 May.2024 09:16(KST)

Maritime weapons developed with domestic technology demonstrated the excellence of 'K-Defense Industry' once again by hitting all targets in live-fire exercises. The launched maritime guided weapons include the anti-ship guided missile defense missile 'Haegung', the tactical fleet-to-ground guided missile 'Haeryong', and the fleet-to-fleet guided missile 'Haeseong-I'.

Hongdae Seonham (PKG) is firing Haesung-I ship-to-ship missiles assuming a maritime provocation situation by an adversary. (Photo by the Navy)

The Jeonbukham (FFG-I) is firing Haeryong tactical fleet surface-to-surface missiles assuming a situation of striking enemy ground provocation forces. (Photo by Navy)

According to the Navy on the 13th, the Navy, together with the Army and Air Force, successfully completed a joint live-fire maritime combat ammunition exercise on the East Sea on the 10th under the command of the Commander of the Navy 1st Fleet. The exercise involved about 10 Navy vessels including the Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer (DDH-I), Chuncheon-class frigate (FFG-II), Jeonbuk-class frigate (FFG-I), and Hong Daeseon-class patrol killer guided missile (PKG), as well as P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, Lynx maritime operational helicopters, Army AH-64E 'Apache' attack helicopters, and Air Force KF-16 fighter jets.

Assuming enemy air, maritime, and ground provocations, the joint forces of the Army, Navy, and Air Force conducted live-fire exercises with anti-air, anti-ship, and anti-ground guided missiles to enhance missile operation and engagement capabilities and improve joint operational performance.

The Chuncheon-class frigate conducted a live-fire exercise simulating a scenario where enemy aircraft and guided missiles approached the ship. When a high-speed anti-air unmanned target drone approached the Chuncheon-class frigate, it launched the Haegung missile and shot down the target drone.

The Chuncheon-class frigate (FFG-II) is firing the Haegung surface-to-air missile defense missile at an aerial drone target simulating enemy aircraft and guided missiles. (Photo by the Navy)

This Haegung live-fire exercise by the Chuncheon-class frigate was the first live-fire exercise conducted under military supervision since the missile was operationalized. The Korean Combat System Synthetic Qualification Test (K-CSSQT) was also applied for the first time on the Chuncheon-class frigate as a trial from the 22nd of last month to the 10th of this month over about three weeks. K-CSSQT scientifically analyzes and evaluates the combat system performance of the ship and the operational capabilities of the crew, made possible last year with the operationalization of the Defense Science Research Institute (ADD) Samcheok Marine Research Center.

Through K-CSSQT, the Chuncheon-class frigate confirmed combat capabilities at each stage of missile live-fire including preparation, launch, and hit, and the analyzed evaluation data will be used for future crew training and doctrine development.

The Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer, which participated in a training simulating enemy surface ship maritime provocations, fired the fleet-to-fleet guided missile 'Harpoon' at a maritime target, and the Hong Daeseon-class patrol killer guided missile ship fired the Haeseong-I missile, hitting their respective targets. The Jeonbuk-class frigate fired the Haeryong missile at a specific maritime target point simulating an enemy ground target and successfully hit it.

The Apache and KF-16, which fired the 'Hellfire' and 'Maverick' missiles respectively, completely destroyed maritime targets simulating enemy ground provocation forces.