South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on Monday (Dec. 12) that the agency is investing USD145 million to develop an Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) for the country’s upcoming KF-21 Boramae (Fighting Hawk) jet fighter. DAPA has also...
To read the full article, please log in or enter your email below:
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on Monday (Dec. 12) that the agency is investing USD145 million to develop an Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) for the country’s upcoming KF-21 Boramae (Fighting Hawk) jet fighter. DAPA has also revealed that the new weapon is expected to enter service in 2028.
Named Cheonryong (Sky Dragon), the missile is actually has been developed since 2016. While it has similar characteristics to the Swedish-German Taurus KEPD 350, which is also in service with the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), the new ALCM is the first confirmed locally developed weapon for the KF-21.
While not much more has been revealed regarding the Cheonryong ALCM, it also has been indicated that the missile is likely to weigh around 1,500 kg and will have a range of around 500 km. It will also have a dual-stage warhead similar to the KEPD 350. This warhead will enable it to penetrate deep into the enemy’s fortification before exploding which is also known as “bunker busting”.
This ability is important for the ROKAF since the weapon will be launched to attack North Korea’s hardened bunkers and military targets in case of an open armed conflict occur between the two nations in the peninsula.
Using the Taurus KEPD 350 ALCM as the sample for Cheonryong’s specification and ability, the missile has a length of about 5 meters, and a diameter of around 1 meter with wings folded. It is powered by a turbofan engine giving it a cruise speed of around Mach 0.9. It will also fly low about 30-70 meters above the ground while following the terrain’s contour to minimize its exposure to enemy radars.
Guided by a multitude of guidance systems such as Image-based navigation, Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and some others, the Cheonryong ALCM is expected to have a similar or better accuracy compared to its peers which are claimed to be accurate within 2 meters.
There is a possibility that once it enters mass production, the new missile will also be offered for export, either as a package with the KF-21 or stand-alone.
[Photo: Taurus System GmbH]
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Biomass satellite, built by Airbus, has departed from Toulouse and is en route to Kourou,…
American Rheinmetall Vehicles has rebranded as American Rheinmetall, a change intended to reflect its commitment to serving customers across all…
EDGE, an advanced technology and defence group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Emirates Cable Corporation Interconnect (ECCI)…
The International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and the Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) will be held at the ADNEC…
Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), part of the EDGE Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with German sensor…
The Brazilian National Secretariat for Penal Policies (SENAPPEN) has signed an initial contract worth R$7 million with CONDOR Non-Lethal Technologies,…
The Philippine Army (PA) has confirmed plans to acquire short-range air defence missile systems, with funding already allocated in the…
The Brazilian Navy has signed an agreement for the integration of MANSUP anti-ship missiles onto its Tamandaré-class stealth frigates. The…
CARACAL Light Ammunition, a subsidiary of the UAE’s EDGE Group, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with PT Pindad,…
Milrem Robotics has partnered with Abu Dhabi-based SteerAI to enhance the UAE land forces' capabilities with autonomous unmanned ground vehicles…
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a Type Certificate for the Airbus A321XLR equipped with Pratt &…
The Israeli Ministry of Defence's Directorate for International Defence Cooperation (SIBAT), in collaboration with leading Israeli defence firms, participated in…
Israeli company Smartshooter and German company IEA Mil-Optics have received another significant order to supply a mid-three-digit number of Smartshooter…
Algeria has formally acknowledged that it has acquired Russian Su-57 stealth fighter aircraft, making it the jet's first international customer.…
IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 signals the coming of age of UAE's growing domestic defence industry, with Abu Dhabi-based Edge Group…
Pratt & Whitney, a division of RTX, has been awarded a three-year contract worth up to $1.5 billion to sustain…
Abu Dhabi-based firms VentureOne and CARACAL have introduced Centurion, a new body armour system designed by the Technology Innovation Institute…
Intercontinental Aviation Academy GCC (IAA GCC) has been established as a new aviation training institution through a partnership between HADID…
EDGE entity TRUST has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Point Trading Group, an Australian company supplying equipment and…
EDGE Group’s Learning & Innovation Factory (LIF) and the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) have signed a…
TRUST, a subsidiary of the UAE-based EDGE group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Germany’s Diehl Defence to…
TRUST International Group, an entity under EDGE, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Leonardo DRS to collaborate on…
Tawazun Quality and Conformity has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with French company MBDA to strengthen cooperation in the…
AL TAIF, a subsidiary of EDGE Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FNSS to modernise a fleet…
EDGE, a defence and technology group, has signed an agreement with CMN NAVAL to collaborate on naval projects. The agreement…
Spectra Group has secured a contract to supply the Irish Defence Force with Comtech’s Troposcatter Compact Over-the-Horizon Mobile Expeditionary Terminals…
FatHopes Energy Sdn Bhd (FHE), a Malaysian biofuel feedstock aggregator, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Denmark-based Topsoe…
Milrem Robotics, EM&E Group, and Thales in Belgium will jointly explore commercial cooperation in the United Arab Emirates. The MoU…
KATIM, an EDGE entity specialising in secure communications and data protection, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Australian…
Hensoldt has introduced the DL-6000, its latest data link system, at IDEX 2025. The sixth-generation solution facilitates secure, long-range, line-of-sight…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.