Seoul: Hanwha Systems Co. announced that it has been chosen to develop a multifunction radar (MFR) prototype for South Korea's next-generation long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM) defense system. This development marks a significant step in enhancing the nation's missile defense capabilities.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hanwha Systems has secured a 54.7 billion-won (approximately US$40 million) contract from the state-run Agency for Defense Development. The contract is part of the second phase of the L-SAM system upgrade, aiming to develop an MFR prototype that will play a crucial role in real-time detection, tracking of multiple incoming targets, and missile guidance. The new prototype is expected to feature high-precision functionalities, extending the detection and tracking range for ballistic missile threats beyond the capabilities of the current L-SAM system.
Hanwha Systems has a history of developing and supplying MFRs for defense systems, including the Cheongung and Cheongung-II systems. The company is also the radar systems provider for South Korea's next-generation Korean destroyer KDDX and the homegrown KF-21 fighter jet. Park Hyuk, head of Hanwha Systems' defense electronics division, expressed the company's commitment to developing high-performance radar solutions, emphasizing their role in helping the Korean military respond effectively to evolving aerial threats.