Hanwha Aerospace secures national procurement contract for Cheongeom missiles

Hanwha Aerospace, a South Korean defence manufacturer, has won a second-phase national procurement contract worth 225.4 billion Korean won (€130.7m) to deliver Cheongeom missiles for South Korea’s light-armed helicopters.

The new order follows a 162.3 billion won (€93.9m) initial contract, bringing the total production volume to 387.7 billion won (€224.9m), with deliveries scheduled through 2028.

The Cheongeom is South Korea’s first domestically developed air-to-ground guided missile, completed in 2022 under the Agency for Defense Development. Hanwha Aerospace produced the prototype, with the missile designed for day-and-night operations.

Its dual-mode seeker and wired datalink allow in-flight targeting adjustments while protecting against enemy jamming. Seoul plans to integrate the system onto amphibious assault helicopters, opening the possibility for further procurement expansions.

Hanwha is also broadening the operational scope of the Cheongeom missile. It is being adapted for use on manned and unmanned ground vehicles, while a smaller Cheongeom-L variant is under development for deployment on infantry fighting vehicles, tank turrets, and by direct infantry units.

South Korea continues to advance its air-to-ground missile capabilities alongside the Cheongeom, with other indigenous programmes such as the Haeseong-III anti-ship missile and the Hyunmoo tactical missile family. These developments form part of a wider strategy to modernise aerial strike and multi-domain deterrence capabilities.

The Hyunmoo programme includes short- and medium-range ballistic and cruise variants for precision strikes on land and coastal targets, while the Haeseong series provides stand-off anti-ship capabilities to protect maritime approaches.

Discover how Hanwha Aerospace is advancing South Korea’s missile capabilities through this key national procurement contract in the full story.