Hanwha Aerospace has received a second-phase production order worth 225.4 billion Korean won ($153 million) to supply Cheongeom missiles for South Korea’s light-armed helicopter fleet.
This follows an initial 162.3-billion won ($110 million) contract awarded last year, bringing the total program value to 387.7 billion won ($263 million), with deliveries to continue through 2028.
The Cheongeom—South Korea’s first indigenously developed air-to-ground guided missile—was finalized in 2022 by the Agency for Defense Development, with Hanwha building the prototype.
Equipped with a dual-mode seeker, the missile supports round-the-clock operations, while its wired datalink allows mid-flight retargeting and offers strong resistance to jamming. Seoul also plans to integrate it onto amphibious assault helicopters, signaling potential future procurement.
Hanwha is broadening the missile’s deployment options. The Cheongeom is being adapted for manned and unmanned ground platforms, and a lighter Cheongeom-L version is under development for infantry fighting vehicles, tank turrets, and even direct infantry use.
South Korea continues to push its air-to-ground missile modernization to bolster precision strike and networked warfare capabilities.
Beyond Cheongeom, ongoing indigenous programs like the Haeseong-III anti-ship missile and the Hyunmoo ballistic and cruise missile family demonstrate a wider push toward advanced strike and multi-domain deterrence. The Hyunmoo lineup provides short- to medium-range precision attack options against land and coastal targets, while the Haeseong series adds long-range maritime engagement capability.
