South Korea has completed the initial deployment of the second phase of its Cheongung-II air defense system, an advanced platform capable of intercepting both aircraft and ballistic missiles.
An upgrade of the baseline Cheongung system, originally designed to counter combat aircraft, Cheongung-II represents a significant step forward in Seoul’s efforts to enhance national air defense.
The original Cheongung system entered service in 2015 as part of South Korea’s ongoing medium-range air defense initiative.
The first phase of Cheongung-II was deployed in 2024, with full deployment of the second phase expected by 2027.
The system offers an operational range of 40 kilometers (25 miles) and can engage targets at altitudes up to 15 kilometers (9 miles).
The enhanced performance in the second phase is enabled by the integration of key components, including new engagement control centers and state-of-the-art multifunctional radar systems.
These upgrades improve low-altitude detection and enable multi-target engagement, enhancing the system’s ability to respond to saturation attacks or complex aerial threats.
Rather than developing a new system from scratch, the South Korean government opted to upgrade the existing Cheongung platform.
This decision brought the development cost of the second phase down to an estimated 645 billion won (approximately $467 million), a cost-effective approach given its enhanced capabilities.
“As we continue full-scale deployment of the Cheongung-II developed with domestic technology, our forces will be strengthened,” Director of the Space Command and Communications Division at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration Jeong Gyu-heon said.
“We will also work to expand exports in the future.”
The Cheongung-II has already seen export success, with systems delivered to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
The Cheongung-II forms a core part of the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system, a multi-layered defense architecture designed to counter North Korea’s evolving missile threat.
The KAMD is itself a central pillar of South Korea’s broader three-axis defense strategy, which also includes preemptive strike capability and a massive retaliation doctrine aimed at deterring and, if necessary, disabling Pyongyang’s leadership and military infrastructure.
It comprises layered systems at varying altitudes, including low-altitude missile defenses, medium-range surface-to-air missiles like the Cheongung-II, and long-range interceptors, forming a comprehensive shield over the Korean Peninsula.
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