South Korea has completed a major upgrade of its Cheongung-I air defense system, transforming it into the more capable Cheongung-II platform, which can now intercept both aircraft and ballistic missiles, the country’s arms procurement agency announced Monday.
According to a press release from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the enhanced system has entered initial deployment with the South Korean military.
Full operational rollout is expected by 2027.
The Cheongung-II represents a shift in South Korea’s defensive posture, expanding the original system’s role from targeting aircraft to engaging a wider range of aerial threats, including ballistic missiles. The upgrade positions the Cheongung-II as a core component of the country’s mid-tier air and missile defense network.
The DAPA agency noted that retrofitting the existing Cheongung-I units provides a cost-efficient alternative to deploying entirely new systems.
Originally fielded to counter aircraft incursions, the Cheongung-I lacked the ability to engage high-speed ballistic targets. In contrast, the upgraded Cheongung-II can track and intercept ballistic missiles at medium altitudes using advanced interceptors, radar, and guidance systems.
The development of Cheongung-II began shortly after the completion of the first-generation system in 2012. The upgraded system was deemed combat-ready following a series of qualification trials in June 2017, meeting all required performance benchmarks, the agency said.
Developers of the system say the new version is equipped with faster, longer-range missiles and precision-guided capabilities that allow it to engage ballistic threats in real time. The system operates autonomously and is designed to integrate with existing command-and-control infrastructure.
The Cheongung-II now forms a key layer of South Korea’s multi-tier Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system, which aims to defend the country against evolving missile threats, particularly those from North Korea. While the Cheongung-I was limited to aircraft defense, the new configuration extends that envelope to include ballistic missile intercepts—an increasingly urgent requirement amid ongoing missile testing by Pyongyang.
The homegrown system has also attracted international interest. South Korea has exported the Cheongung system to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, where it is being integrated into national air defense networks.
While the number of upgraded units currently in service has not been disclosed, DAPA confirmed that the rollout will continue in phases until the system is fully installed across the armed forces.