The military authorities will move to select a contractor within the year to develop a long-range air-to-air (air launched at air) guided missile system to be mounted on the Korean next-generation supersonic fighter KF-21. Because long-range air-to-air guided missiles strike aerial targets hundreds of kilometers away and are expensive, high value-added weapons, domestic defense companies are expected to wage fierce competition.
According to the military authorities and the defense industry on the 22nd, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration plans to place an order for the long-range air-to-air guided missile system development project around the second half of this year. The purpose is to boost the KF-21's air superiority capability and enhance the product's competitiveness in the global defense market.
The Defense Project Promotion Committee decided to invest a total of 753.5 billion won from this year through 2033 to complete development, and to begin mass production starting in 2035 with 1.1471 trillion won.
Because long-range air-to-air guided missiles require highly advanced technology, they offer high added value. They must combine the propulsion and precision strike capability to hit targets flying at supersonic speeds and the ability to evade enemy communications and radar jamming.
The military authorities aim for the performance of the long-range air-to-air guided missile under development to surpass the European Meteor. The Meteor is an air-to-air missile made by pan-European missile developer MBDA, with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Spain participating in its development. The missile has a maximum range of about 200 kilometers and speeds above Mach 4, and each round reportedly costs several billion won.
As long-range air-to-air guided missiles fall into a high value-added business, competition among defense companies to win the program is expected to be intense.
Several companies also jumped into the prototype (an initial sample to verify design and functions) development project conducted last year. Hanwha Aerospace was selected for prototype system integration, and LIG Nex1 and Hyundai Rotem won tasks to develop the airframe structure and propulsion system for the prototype. Hanwha Systems agreed to develop the "seeker," which is attached to the guided missile to search for targets, during the prototype development stage.
Some warn that if competition among companies overheats, development and fielding of the long-range air-to-air guided missile could be delayed. For example, the KDDX program to build six domestically produced Aegis destroyers for 7.8 trillion won had planned to select a contractor in the first half of 2024, but as HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean clashed sharply and political circles joined in, the schedule was delayed by nearly two years.
There are also concerns about a capability gap. The KF-21's force integration wraps up in 2032, but mass production of the long-range air-to-air guided missile begins in 2035. For three years, foreign-made guided missiles must be used; if imports are disrupted, the KF-21 would have to carry out missions with "half capability" without missiles.