
S. Korea conducts separation test for homegrown long-range air-to-surface guided missile
The test, which is aimed at verifying whether the missile clearly detaches from the aircraft without affecting its safety and functions, took place at an Air Force unit on Monday, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
DAPA plans to conduct various tests of the missile using a test FA-50 aircraft before verifying the missile on a KF-21 prototype starting in 2027, it said.
Since 2018, South Korea has been seeking to develop long-range guided missiles to be equipped on the KF-21 to carry out precision strikes on key enemy targets.
DAPA said the latest test marked a key milestone in the project and expected the guided missiles to be exported alongside the KF-21 to boost arms exports. (Yonhap)

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
DAPA to streamline procedures for joint civil-military space projects
Military plans to operate at least 30 ultrasmall satellites by 2030 South Korea's arms procurement agency is seeking to streamline the management of joint civil-military space development projects, including the planned operation of ultrasmall satellites, in a bid to reduce inefficiencies caused by overlapping regulations. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said Wednesday it has commissioned a study to establish standardized procedures for projects jointly pursued and operated by the government, military and industries. DAPA explained that such projects often suffer from inefficiencies, such as clashes between civilian and military regulations that often lead to procedural conflicts. A key example of such a project is the military's plan to launch a cluster of at least 30 ultrasmall satellites by 2030 into outer space. The system is designed to closely monitor North Korea and swiftly detect signs of potential provocations. The program is jointly led by DAPA, the Korea Aerospace Administration and the Korea Coast Guard, with participation from research institutions including the Agency for Defense Development and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. Industry partners include Hanwha Systems and Korea Aerospace Industries. Pointing to similar challenges observed in previous joint projects, including the Surion helicopter and light armed and civil helicopter programs, DAPA stressed the need for improved oversight. "As civil-military space programs continue to grow, standardized project management is essential to ensure smooth operational deployment (of such military assets)," a DAPA official said. "The goal is to avoid redundant oversight while achieving public objectives." DAPA aims to complete the standardization of procedures and introduce related administrative rules next year.


Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Korea Herald
S. Korea in talks to launch NATO defense consultative body in September
South Korea is in talks with NATO to launch a working-level defense consultative body as early as September, through which it would seek to expand opportunities for local defense firms to enter the European market. The inaugural session of the consultative body is being discussed for late September in Brussels, Belgium, with final arrangements still being coordinated by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and NATO, according to an official at the arms procurement agency on Tuesday. The consultative body would aim to strengthen cooperation across a wide range of defense areas, including joint weapons acquisition and research and development, logistics support, standardization and airworthiness certification, and training and education. Its launch is expected to provide South Korean defense companies with an additional export channel to NATO's European member states, the official said. The consultative body was first proposed by DAPA Commissioner Seok Jong-gun during his visit to Belgium in April. It gained traction following a meeting between National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in The Hague on the sidelines of the NATO summit in June. During Wi's visit to The Hague, the two sides also discussed the possibility of Seoul's participation in NATO's High Visibility Projects, a next-generation program focused on the joint development and procurement of advanced military capabilities. With NATO member states set to boost their defense budgets, the European market is emerging as a strategic opportunity for South Korean defense exporters. In June, NATO member states agreed to raise their total defense-related expenditure to 5 percent of gross domestic product by 2035, including 3.5 percent allocated to defense budgets and 1.5 percent to indirect investments, apparently in response to US President Donald Trump's demands that they increase defense spending. The projected expansion of the European defense market is seen as a timely opportunity for South Korean defense firms, which are known for their cost competitiveness and rapid delivery, the DAPA official added.


Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Korea Herald
South Korea deploys upgraded Cheongung defense system
South Korea has successfully deployed its enhanced air defense system capable of striking down ballistic targets, the state arms procurement agency said Monday. The first batch of the new Cheongung-II system, upgraded from the Cheongung-I, has been successfully deployed to the South Korean military and is projected to be fully installed and in operation by 2027, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The upgraded system is effective against both aircraft and ballistic targets and is designed to intercept incoming missiles at altitudes of 15 kilometers and ranges of 40 km. It is equipped with a high-performance multi-function radar and improved interceptor missiles. The new system is also known as M-SAM 2 to distinguish it from Cheongung-I, the first locally developed surface-to-air missile system in South Korea. The Cheongung-I system focuses on striking a hostile aircraft at an altitude of up to 40 kilometers. DAPA said that a total of 645 billion won ($467 million) was invested in the project to upgrade the air defense system. The upgrade project helped them to significantly save costs, compared to deploying new air defense systems, the agency noted. In 2024, South Korea exported 10 Cheongung-II missile defense systems to Saudi Arabia under a $3.2-billion deal. The Cheongung-II system has been previously sold and exported to the United Arab Emirates in 2022 under a separate $3.5 billion deal.