Home / Technology / South Korea Unveils Advanced Ship-to-Air Missile
South Korea Unveils Advanced Ship-to-Air Missile
28 Jul
Summary
- South Korea's new KSAM-II missile can detect targets as small as 30 cm.
- The KSAM-II processes target data 100 times per second, five times faster than SM-2.
- South Korea's advanced KSAM-II missile program is budgeted at $472.78 million.
South Korea's LIG Defense and Aerospace has presented its newest surface-to-air missile, the KSAM-II, developed to replace the American SM-2. This advanced missile, also known as FAM-II, features a "third-generation precision seeker" capable of detecting targets as small as 30 cm, a significant improvement over earlier models.
The KSAM-II processes trajectory data approximately 100 times per second, five times faster than the SM-2. It is designed to reach speeds up to Mach 5 and withstand high G-forces. The development program, launched in 2023, has a total budget estimated at 690 billion won ($472.78 million) and is scheduled to run until 2036.
Assembly of the missile is a complex, three-month process involving about 20 people in the final stage. The KSAM-II is intended for deployment on the upcoming KDDX destroyers, which will also be equipped with other advanced weaponry. South Korea aims for this missile to potentially boost its defense product exports.
