South Korea has officially approved the mass production of its Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM) following Hanwha Aerospace’s signing of a 705.4-billion won ($480 million) contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). Under the agreement, Hanwha Aerospace will supply interceptor missiles and launchers to the Republic of Korea Armed Forces by 2030, marking a major milestone in the country’s advanced missile-defense buildup.
The L-SAM is engineered for high-altitude interception, utilizing a Divert and Control System and a dual-pulse propulsion engine—both of which represent technologies previously not manufactured domestically. Once deployed, the missile will serve as the upper-tier defensive layer, reinforcing existing systems such as the Cheongung II and Patriot to create a more resilient, multi-layered air and missile defense shield.
South Korea is also expanding the program’s radar capabilities. In October 2025, Hanwha Systems secured a separate 357.3-billion won ($243 million) contract to produce the L-SAM’s Multifunction Radar (MFR), which functions as the core sensor system responsible for detecting and tracking ballistic threats and directing interceptors to their targets. Additional industry partners, including Wavice, have been contracted for hardware components such as high-power amplifier boards valued at 26.5 billion won ($18 million).
Beyond the baseline system, South Korea is pushing ahead with next-generation upgrades. In June 2025, Hanwha Aerospace received 198.6 billion won ($135 million) to develop L-SAM II, an advanced interceptor designed to neutralize ballistic threats at even higher altitudes and extended ranges. Hanwha Systems is concurrently developing a new multifunction radar for L-SAM II under a 54.7-billion won ($37 million) contract. These initiatives demonstrate South Korea’s determination to strengthen its defensive architecture amid evolving regional missile threats.
