South Korea’s Hanwha Systems has been awarded a $135.5 million radar development contract for the Cheongung-III medium-range air and missile defense system, marking a major milestone in the country’s missile defense modernization efforts. The contract, valued at 200 billion Korean won, was signed with the Agency for Defense Development and supports the M-SAM Block-III prototype radar program.
Scheduled to continue through 2030, the project represents the first new Cheongung system development in more than a decade. The multi-function radar lies at the core of Cheongung-III, enabling integrated surveillance, tracking, identification, and missile guidance, and serving as the command element for real-time threat engagement.
Hanwha Systems will integrate advanced digital AESA radar technology, which allows simultaneous tracking of multiple airborne and ballistic targets while reducing response time and increasing detection range. The radar will act as the system’s primary sensor, coordinating interception missions and enhancing overall system effectiveness within South Korea’s layered air and missile defense architecture.
Hanwha’s radar expertise extends across multiple defense programs, including L-SAM, KF-21 fighter AESA radars, long-range artillery interception systems, and naval combatants. Cheongung-III also benefits from the strong export momentum of Cheongung-II, which has secured multi-billion-dollar contracts across the Middle East, positioning South Korea as a competitive global supplier of advanced air defense solutions.
