LIG Nex1 is developing the low-altitude missile defence system for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. (Janes/Oishee Majumdar )
South Korea's LIG Nex1 is on track to deliver the low-altitude missile defence (LAMD) system and the long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM) system to the Republic of Korea (RoK) Armed Forces by the end of the decade.
LIG Nex1 started development of the LAMD system in 2023, a company official told Janes at the Korea Army International Defense Industry Exhibition (KADEX) 2024 held at Gyeryongdae from 2 to 6 October.
The company expects to complete the development of the LAMD system and deploy one battery to the RoK Armed Forces in 2028, the official said.
“The concept of the LAMD system is very similar to Israel's Iron Dome air-defence system. The primary mission objective of the LAMD system will be to counter North Korean missile threats.
“The LAMD will be able to defend our assets by simultaneously engaging with multiple North Korean missiles in the event of such an attack,” the official said, adding that the LAMD will have a range of 15 km.
LIG Nex1 has been collaborating with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), a subsidiary of South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), to build systems that will be part of the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system. The KAMD will provide layered defence against incoming missile threats. It comprises the L-SAM system, the Cheongung II medium-range SAM (M-SAM), the US-supplied MIM-104 Patriot SAM, and the LAMD.
The L-SAM is also being developed by LIG Nex1. The official said, “LIG Nex1 will produce the first unit of L-SAM in 2025. It will be deployed to the RoK Armed Forces by 2026.”
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