South Korea Begins Development of Long-range Air Defense Missile System

South Korea has initiated the development of a new homegrown missile system, the L-SAM II, designed to intercept high-altitude threats, the country's arms procurement agency reported Tuesday.

A meeting to discuss the L-SAM II system’s development took place at the Agency for Defense Development in Daejeon, approximately 140 kilometers south of Seoul, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) stated. The L-SAM II will enhance South Korea's missile defense capabilities by improving interception at higher altitudes, and it is expected to expand the coverage of the existing L-SAM system by three to four times.

The L-SAM system, part of the broader Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) framework, plays a central role in protecting the country against aerial threats such as ballistic missiles, aircraft, and other high-altitude dangers. The system is designed to counter intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) during their terminal phase. It is poised to serve as a critical component of South Korea’s three-axis deterrence strategy, which also includes the Kill Chain preemptive strike platform and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation system.

The $388 million (567.7 billion-won) L-SAM II project is expected to be completed by 2028. South Korea completed the development of the first block of the original L-SAM system in November 2024 and plans to start serial production in 2025.

The L-SAM system operates through a network of radar, command and control units, and interceptor missiles. The radar detects and tracks threats, while the command unit processes the data to determine interception strategies. The interceptor missiles are equipped with guidance systems that allow them to adjust their trajectory mid-flight, ensuring precise targeting of multiple threats simultaneously. The L-SAM’s ability to counter large-scale, coordinated attacks sets it apart from systems like Patriot and THAAD, offering an additional layer of defense.