Seoul: Defense giant Hanwha Aerospace Co. announced the development of a new version of the Korean Vertical Launch System (KVLS) in collaboration with government agencies. This advancement marks a significant step in enhancing the nation's defense capabilities.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hanwha Aerospace collaborated with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), and the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ) to develop the KVLS-II over a period of five years. The company highlighted their commitment to strengthening research and development to bolster the country's self-defense capabilities, as stated by Kim Dong-hyun, head of the company's Land Systems Business Group.
The KVLS-II is set to be installed on the Navy's KDDX and KDX-III Batch-II destroyers later this year. Previously, Hanwha showcased the "Any Cell, Any Missile" KVLS-II at the Marine Defense Exhibition (MADEX) 2021 in Busan, located 389 kilometers from Seoul.
The existing KVLS serves as the Navy's standard vertical launch system, designed for storing and firing a range of guided weapons, including anti-surface, anti-submarine, and anti-air missiles.