Hanwha Aerospace is also developing a compact, lightweight variant Chungeom-L(Light) designed for infantry-portable or vehicle-mounted operation.Combined with the first production contract worth KRW 162.3 billion signed last year, the total production program now amounts to KRW 387.7 billion. Hanwha Aerospace will deliver the Chungeom missile system—including missiles and launchers—to the military through 2028. Additional orders are expected, as DAPA is also considering integrating Chungeom onto the ROK Marine Corps’ ongoing Marine Attack Helicopter program.

Chungeom is the nation’s first domestically developed air-to-ground guided missile. Led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and prototyped by Hanwha Aerospace, the missile completed development in 2022. It employs a dual-mode seeker enabling day-and-night, all-weather operations, while its wired datalink guidance ensures resilience against electronic jamming. The missile also supports in-flight retargeting—LOAL/LOBL—allowing operators to modify targets after launch and rapidly adapt to evolving battlefield conditions.

Hanwha Aerospace is now broadening Chungeom’s operational applications beyond helicopters. The system is being modularized for deployment on both manned and unmanned ground vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), and tank turrets. The company is also developing a compact, lightweight variant 'Chungeom-L(Light)' designed for infantry-portable or vehicle-mounted operation. These efforts aim to diversify the Republic of Korea military’s precision-strike structure while strengthening competitiveness in customized export packages for international customers.

A Hanwha Aerospace official stated, “We will ensure stable mass production of Chungeom to enhance the military’s precision-strike capabilities. By expanding the missile’s platform compatibility, we aim to contribute to the diversification of South Korea’s force structure and actively pursue export opportunities.” As a cornerstone of South Korea’s indigenous weapons modernization strategy, Chungeom is expected to become a central element in future ROK Army and Marine Corps strike platforms—reinforcing the country’s drive toward autonomous, high-precision combat capabilities.

K-DEFENSE NEWS | Strategic Analysis Desk