SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace said on Wednesday it has signed a second production contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to supply additional Cheongeom air-to-ground missiles, in a deal valued at 225.4 billion won ($170 million).
The new order follows an earlier 162.3 billion won contract, bringing total procurement for the program to 387.7 billion won. Deliveries of the missiles and launchers to the South Korean military are scheduled by 2028, the company said.
The Cheongeom — the country’s first domestically developed air-to-ground missile — was completed in 2022, with Hanwha serving as the prototype manufacturer. The precision-guided weapon is equipped with a dual-mode seeker enabling day- and night-time targeting and a wired data link designed to enhance resistance to jamming. It also supports post-launch target updates to adapt to changing battlefield conditions.
Hanwha is working to expand deployment options for the missile, including integration with manned and unmanned ground vehicles. A lighter variant, the Cheongeom-L, is under development for infantry units and for installation on armored vehicles and tanks.
“We aim to support stable mass production and diversify operational platforms, contributing to South Korea’s defense capabilities while pursuing tailored export opportunities,” Hanwha Aerospace said in a press release.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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