Hanwha Aerospace has secured a 225.4-billion KRW ($153M) second-phase contract to produce additional Cheongeom air-to-ground missiles for South Korea’s light-armed helicopters. This follows a 162.3-billion KRW ($110M) initial order placed last year, bringing total commitments to 387.7 billion KRW ($263M) with deliveries running through 2028. Completed in 2022, the Cheongeom is South Korea’s first indigenous guided missile of its class, equipped with a dual-mode seeker and wired datalink for secure, jam-resistant targeting. Seoul plans to integrate the system onto amphibious assault helicopters while expanding applications across manned and unmanned ground vehicles. A compact Cheongeom-L variant is also under development for IFVs, tanks, and infantry deployment. The program strengthens South Korea’s broader modernization track, complementing systems such as the Haeseong-III anti-ship missile and the Hyunmoo ballistic/cruise missile family.
