South Korean Defense Ministry said today that the Office of Defense business, long-range ground to air missile self-developed South Korea – “Cheolmae II” Hing Proving Ground recently successfully tested with live ammunition. So “Cheolmae II” mass production is expected this year.
The KM-SAM which is also known as the Cheolmae-2 or Cheongung or M-SAM is a Korean medium range SAM system that is developed by ADD with technical support from Almaz-Antey and Fakel.
A complete battery consists of up to six 8 cell transport-erector-launchers, a passive electronically scanned array (PESA) X-band multi-function 3D phased array radar, and a fire command vehicle.
The KM-SAM is the middle-tier of South Korea’s three-tier aerial and missile defense system. Though it was developed in Russia by the Almaz Design Bureau with assistance from Samsung Thales, LIG Nex1, and Doosan DST, localization and industrialization were done in South Korea enough to consider it an indigenous system. The Cheongung (Iron Hawk) can intercept targets up to an altitude of 15 km (49,000 ft) at a range of 40 km (25 mi). It is to replace upgraded MIM-23 Hawk batteries in South Korea and be made available for export. Almaz-Antey continued with the program after prototypes were transferred and have created a distinctly Russian version called the Vityaz missile system.
