By Jun Ji-hye
Korea will deploy indigenous surface-to-air guided missiles by the end of this year as testing has been successfully completed, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Thursday.
"The Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ) successfully conducted the quality certification firing of the Cheongung in late July," said the DAPA in a press release. "Mass production will begin in earnest this year following the completion of the quality-certification process."
A DAPA official noted that the product receives a pass mark if it hits its target twice out of three test-fires.
Cheongung, the medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, was developed in 2011 by LIG Nex1 to replace the Air Force's aging hawk missiles in order to beef up the nation's air and missile defense.
Cheongung can intercept targets at an altitude of up to 40 kilometers and at a range of about 40 kilometers.
"Cheongung can be fired even in a harsh environment with a maximum temperature of 36 degrees Celsius and a low of minus 30 degrees Celsius, as well as in the face of electromagnetic waves," LIG Nex1 said in a statement.
The DTaQ said the latest quality certification firing proves the excellence of Cheongung.
"The successful quality checking of Cheongung will be a good opportunity for the nation's development of guided weapons in the future," it said.
For his part, Air Force Col. Dang Byung-gyu, who is in charge of the medium altitude guided weapons project at DAPA, said his agency will do its best to make Cheongung a masterpiece so it can contribute to building military strength.
DAPA said that it created a task force consisting of officials of the DTaQ, the Air Force and LIG Nex1 as well as relevant experts to carry out the latest test-firing.
Cheongung was recognized for its excellent performance while undertaking a number of test-firings under a variety of conditions.
In 2012, the government said it was the best achievement of its weapon development program.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
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| A test-firing of the Cheongung indigenous surface-to-air guided missile. / Courtesy of DAPA |
"The Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ) successfully conducted the quality certification firing of the Cheongung in late July," said the DAPA in a press release. "Mass production will begin in earnest this year following the completion of the quality-certification process."
A DAPA official noted that the product receives a pass mark if it hits its target twice out of three test-fires.
Cheongung, the medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, was developed in 2011 by LIG Nex1 to replace the Air Force's aging hawk missiles in order to beef up the nation's air and missile defense.
Cheongung can intercept targets at an altitude of up to 40 kilometers and at a range of about 40 kilometers.
"Cheongung can be fired even in a harsh environment with a maximum temperature of 36 degrees Celsius and a low of minus 30 degrees Celsius, as well as in the face of electromagnetic waves," LIG Nex1 said in a statement.
The DTaQ said the latest quality certification firing proves the excellence of Cheongung.
"The successful quality checking of Cheongung will be a good opportunity for the nation's development of guided weapons in the future," it said.
For his part, Air Force Col. Dang Byung-gyu, who is in charge of the medium altitude guided weapons project at DAPA, said his agency will do its best to make Cheongung a masterpiece so it can contribute to building military strength.
DAPA said that it created a task force consisting of officials of the DTaQ, the Air Force and LIG Nex1 as well as relevant experts to carry out the latest test-firing.
Cheongung was recognized for its excellent performance while undertaking a number of test-firings under a variety of conditions.
In 2012, the government said it was the best achievement of its weapon development program.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
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