Hanwha Systems has been awarded a 200 billion won ($135.5 million) development contract to design the multi-function radar for South Korea’s upcoming Cheongung-III air and missile defense system.
Signed with the Agency for Defense Development, the agreement covers a prototype radar for the Mid-range Surface-to-Air Missile Block-III program. Running through June 2030, the initiative marks the first new Cheongung system development since the modernization of Cheongung-II more than a decade ago.
The radar lies at the heart of the Cheongung-III system, providing detection, tracking, identification, and fire-control functions. Hanwha Systems plans to apply fully digital AESA technology to deliver advanced operational performance.
With AESA, the radar can conduct multiple missions simultaneously, tracking aircraft and ballistic missiles at the same time while offering faster response speeds and wider coverage than traditional mechanically scanned systems.
Known as M-SAM Block-III, Cheongung-III represents the latest evolution of South Korea’s medium-range surface-to-air missile capability. The system delivers improved detection and interception performance, higher-altitude engagement, and enhanced multi-target tracking, reinforcing the country’s layered air and missile defense network.
Acting as the system’s primary sensor, the multi-function radar enables real-time coordination of threat detection and interceptor guidance. Hanwha Systems is leading the radar effort, integrating AESA technology to support rapid reaction times, broad-area surveillance, and simultaneous engagement of multiple threats.
Hanwha’s broader radar development portfolio includes AESA radars for the L-SAM long-range missile system, the Long-Range Artillery Interception System, the KF-21 fighter, and naval combatants such as the Ulsan-class Batch-III frigates and next-generation KDDX destroyers.
The Cheongung-III program also benefits from the strong export track record of Cheongung-II, which has secured major sales to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq since 2022, with deal values ranging from about $867 million to $1.1 billion.
