Development of South Korea’s air-launched Chungum anti-tank guided missile is expected to be completed by the end of 2020, Hanwha Defense officials told Jane’s at the 5–9 February Defexpo 2020 exhibition in Lucknow, northern India.
The Chungum missile (top) and its dual-tube launcher (bottom) as displayed at the 5–9 Defexpo 2020 exhibition in Lucknow. (Jane’s/Rahul Udoshi)
The weapon, which is being developed by South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development in association with Hanwha Defense, is expected to arm the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Light Armed Helicopters (LAHs) on order for the Republic of Korea Army. An LAH can carry a maximum four of these missiles (two on each side).
The weapon, development of which began in 2017, will also be offered for export, with India being mentioned by company officials as a possible market.
A model of the Chungum ATGM displayed at Defexpo 2020 was shown fitted with four fold-out (backwards) mid-body fins and four fold-out (backwards) aft fins for flight stabilisation. The missile, which is 120 mm in diameter and weighs 16 kg, has four major subsections: seeker, propulsion, control mechanism, along with battery and optical fibre cable at the rear. It has two mid-body nozzles for thrust control.
The missile features a LIG Nex1-developed dual mode seeker – imaging infrared and charge-coupled device – and a tandem-shaped warhead that is detonated by either impact or time delay fuzes.
The weapon is powered by a smokeless solid-propellant rocket motor that enables the missile to cruise at a speed of about 200 m/s, with a maximum strike range of 8 km.
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