South Korea completes development of L-SAM anti-missile system
30 November, 2024 An L-SAM anti-missile system. Photo credits: South Korean Ministry of Defense South Korea has completed the development of a domestic anti-missile system L-SAM to intercept intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
This was reported on the official website of the South Korean Ministry of National Defense. Currently, the development of a domestic missile interceptor is nearing completion, which will allow the start of personnel training for these systems and ensure their supply to the army. The development of the first version of the system began in 2014 and is designed to intercept medium-range ballistic missiles at altitudes of up to 60 km and distances of up to 200 km.
A schematic representation of the L-SAM missile defense system's capabilities.
Photo credits: South Korean Ministry of National Defense
The launcher can be equipped with two types of missiles: anti-ballistic missiles for intercepting short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at speeds up to 3000 m/s (Mach 8.82), and missiles for intercepting air targets such as aircraft at speeds up to 700 m/s. The battery includes a radar with an active phased array antenna (S-band), which allows targeting 20 aircraft or 10 ballistic missiles simultaneously. The maximum tracking capability is up to 100 aircraft and 10 ballistic targets.
The effective range of ballistic missile detection is approximately 350 km, which makes the system aimed at neutralizing the missile threat from the DPRK. In general, one L-SAM battery consists of:
- a multifunctional radar station,
- a control center,
- a command post,
- two launchers with anti-missiles to intercept ballistic targets
- two launchers with missiles to intercept air targets.
The South Korean Ministry of National Defense notes that the domestic system is twice as cheap as the American THAAD system, but its characteristics are similar to the American system, which is also on combat duty on the Korean Peninsula. It should be noted that after completing the development of the L-SAM Block 1 complex, South Korea began developing the L-SAM Block 2, which will be focused on an increased radius of interception of ballistic targets at altitudes up to 100 km and at a longer range. Earlier, Militarnyi reported that South Korea would strengthen its own maritime air defense component with American SM-3 missiles.
The missiles will be part of the weapon system of the KDX-3 project missile destroyers, the total number of which will be increased to six.