(Hanwha Systems)

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Hanwha Systems will begin full-scale development of a multifunction radar for the Cheongung-III, the next-generation Korean air and missile defense system often described as Korea’s version of the Patriot.

The company said Wednesday it has signed a contract to supply a prototype multifunction radar (MFR) as part of the third-phase development of the Medium-range Surface-to-Air Missile (M-SAM) Block-III program, led by the Agency for Defense Development. The contract is valued at 200.6 billion won ($136 million) with the project set to run through June 2030.

Cheongung-III is the latest model in the Cheongung missile series and represents a follow-up system being pursued roughly 13 years after the performance upgrade program for Cheongung-II in 2012. The multifunction radar serves as the core sensor of the Cheongung-III, detecting and tracking threats such as ballistic missiles and aircraft while supporting interception.

The radar will incorporate Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology, which enables rapid electronic beam steering to simultaneously detect and track high-speed ballistic missiles and aircraft at long range. Compared with conventional mechanically steered radars, AESA systems offer wider coverage and faster response times.

Hanwha Systems said it plans to combine its latest radar technologies with development and operational experience accumulated through previous Cheongung-I and Cheongung-II radar programs to further enhance performance in close cooperation with the Agency for Defense Development.

The company has applied AESA radar technology across a wide range of defense platforms, including the KF-21 fighter jet, the long-range surface-to-air missile system (L-SAM), the long-range artillery interception system (LAMD), and multifunction radars deployed on Ulsan-class Batch-III frigates and the next-generation destroyer (KDDX).