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The Administration of the South Korean Defense Procurement Program (DAPA) has signed a contract with the South Korean aerospace manufacturer LIG Nex1 to develop a new KSM-2 anti-aircraft missile as part of the Ship-to-Air II Missile project for the Republic's Navy. In a corresponding statement from DAPA, published yesterday, it is reported that work on the creation of the latest rocket will be carried out until 2030, their total cost is 248 million dollars.
The ship-to-air II missile is a new type of anti—aircraft guided missile (SAM) designed to be installed on a Korean next-generation destroyer (KDDX), according to the online military-themed publication Naval News. Since the Republic of Korea is building its own destroyer, featuring a large number of localized equipment and weapons systems, DAPA recognized the need to develop guided weapons on KDDX using domestic technologies. The new missiles will strengthen the protection of ships from aerial threats such as North Korean aircraft and cruise missiles.
The KSM-2 missiles are to replace the American-made SM-2 surface-to-air missiles, which are currently in service with the ROK Navy. The latest ammunition is being developed using advanced innovative technologies in the field of precision guidance and search. Their combat purpose and concept will be similar to the existing SM-2.
Lee Dong—seok, head of the guided weapons project group at the Defense Procurement Program Administration, told the online publication
In addition to the ship-to-air missile, the KDDX destroyers will also be equipped with a ballistic missile interception system, which includes the adaptation and development of a naval version of the South Korean air defense system/ABOUT L-SAM. Thus, KDDX will be equipped with new Korean versions of medium- and long-range missiles capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
At the end of December 2023, the South Korean company HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced the completion of the basic design of the Korean next-generation destroyer KDDX. The KDDX basic design contract was awarded to HHI by the South Korean Defense Procurement Program Administration in 2020. According to HD HHI, KDDX's combat and technical capabilities are comparable to the most advanced destroyer of the ROK Navy, KDX-III Batch-II, equipped with the Aegis combat system, launched in 2022. The newest destroyer will be the first warship fully built using domestic technologies, Naval News notes.
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