South Korea has officially initiated large-scale production of the Long-range Surface to Air Missile (L-SAM) following a significant contract between Hanwha Aerospace and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, valued at 705.4 billion Korean won (approximately $480 million). The contract tasks Hanwha Aerospace with providing L-SAM interceptor missiles and accompanying launchers to the Republic of Korea Armed Forces by the year 2030.
The L-SAM system is engineered for high-altitude operations and incorporates advanced technologies such as a Divert and Control System along with a dual-pulse propulsion engine. These features were previously not produced within South Korea, highlighting the technological advancements being made in the nation’s defense capabilities.
Once operational, the L-SAM will enhance South Korea’s existing layered air and missile defense framework. It will introduce an additional upper interception layer to complement lower-layer systems, including the Cheongung II and Patriot missiles, which are already in service. This strategic addition aims to bolster the country’s defense against various aerial threats, particularly as regional tensions escalate.
In tandem with the interceptor missile project, Hanwha Systems was awarded a separate contract worth 357.3 billion Korean won ($243 million) in October 2025 to produce the Multifunction Radar (MFR) essential to the L-SAM system. This radar will act as the nerve center for the missile system, tasked with detecting and tracking incoming ballistic threats and guiding interceptor missiles to their intended targets.
The South Korean missile defense initiative encompasses a range of projects and upgrades that extend beyond the basic L-SAM configuration. In June 2025, Hanwha Aerospace was granted an additional 198.6 billion Korean won ($135 million) by the Agency for Defense Development to develop the next-generation high-altitude interceptor system, known as L-SAM II. This advanced system aims to target ballistic missiles at greater altitudes and distances than the original L-SAM, thus significantly enhancing South Korea’s intercept and strike capabilities.
Furthermore, in 2025, Hanwha Systems secured a contract valued at 54.7 billion Korean won ($37 million) for the development of a next-generation Multifunction Radar specifically designed for the L-SAM II. This radar is expected to offer improved detection ranges and the ability to track multiple targets simultaneously, which is essential for countering contemporary missile threats.
Various companies, such as Wavice, have also secured contracts related to the L-SAM radar hardware. Notably, Wavice has been awarded a contract worth 26.5 billion Korean won ($18 million) for the production of high-power amplifier boards utilized in the Multifunction Radar, further highlighting the extensive collaboration and investment within South Korea’s defense industry to modernize and fortify its military capabilities.
