Korea’s New Missile Defense System: Protecting Against North Korean Threats – Part 2

South Korea has announced the development of a maritime version of its domestically developed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, known as the Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM). This development aims to enhance the country’s naval ballistic missile defense capabilities.

In addition to this, the domestically developed Ballistic Missile Early Warning Radar-I/II, which has already been deployed, and the DDG Aegis combat system with ballistic missile tracking capabilities will be sequentially deployed to enhance overlapping surveillance capabilities against ballistic missiles.

Most of all, in addition to the assets of the Army and Air Force, the Navy will also operate the SM-6 interceptor capable of intercepting ballistic missiles in the DDG Aegis combat system, which is a part of the three-axis system construction of maritime-based air defense (maritime air defense network). The maximum interception altitude of the SM-6 interceptor is 35 kilometers.

Initially, the Korean military planned to introduce the U.S. SM-3 interceptor capable of intercepting missiles at altitudes of 70-600 kilometers. However, with the recent emergence of new tactical ballistic missiles (KN-23) and super-large multiple rocket launchers believed to be capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads by North Korea, the decision was made to switch to the SM-6. This is because the minimum interception altitude of the SM-3 is 70-90 kilometers, making it unable to intercept missiles flying below that altitude. In contrast, North Korea’s new tactical missiles fly at altitudes of about 60 kilometers.

Furthermore, it is planned to establish a ballistic missile interception system on the maritime base by modifying and developing domestically produced L-SAMs for the Korean Next-Generation Destroyer (KDDX). If this concept succeeds, the Korean military can increase the success rate of defense through multiple interception attempts.

The key weapon of the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system is undoubtedly the Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM), also known as the Korean version of THAAD. L-SAM is a medium-to-high-tier defense weapon system that detects long-range targets early with radar and accurately intercepts them with guided missiles. Led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), radar is being developed by domestic companies such as Hanwha Systems. In contrast, guided missiles are being developed by LIG Nex1, and other main components of L-SAM are being developed by other domestic companies.

The Multifunction Radar (MFR) is the core sensor of the L-SAM. The square L-SAM MFR prototype can be rotated up to 150 degrees to detect a wide area. It is designed to be mobile in trailer form. In actual deployment, it can simultaneously track hundreds of aircraft and dozens of ballistic missiles.

L-SAM is the “final puzzle” of the military’s independent air defense network, KAMD. Once deployed, it can be integrated with the Korean military Patriot missile system for lower-tier defense and the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (M-SAM), known as “Cheongung-II,” for medium-tier defense, completing the military’s independent multilayered and complex defense system. Therefore, L-SAM is often compared to the THAAD system operated by the USFK at Seongju Base.

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