South Korea is taking another major step in strengthening its air and missile defense capabilities with the launch of the Cheongung-III (M-SAM Block-III) program. Hanwha Systems has been awarded a contract worth approximately 200 billion Korean won (around $135.5 million) to develop the multi-function radar that will form the backbone of this next-generation system. The agreement was signed with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and focuses on producing a prototype radar for the mid-range surface-to-air missile Block-III program.

The development program is scheduled to run through June 2030 and represents the first entirely new Cheongung variant since the Cheongung-II upgrade completed in 2012. At the heart of Cheongung-III is its advanced multi-function radar, which will be responsible for detection, tracking, identification, and fire-control support. This radar acts as the “eyes” of the system, enabling real-time coordination between threat detection and missile interception.

Hanwha Systems will base the new radar on fully digital Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology. AESA radars provide significant operational advantages over mechanically scanned systems, including faster reaction times, greater reliability, and the ability to perform multiple missions simultaneously. With this capability, the Cheongung-III radar will be able to track aircraft and ballistic missile threats at the same time, offering wider coverage and enhanced multi-target engagement performance.

Cheongung-III is designed to play a key role in South Korea’s layered air and missile defense architecture. The system combines improved detection range, higher-altitude interception capability, and advanced multi-target tracking to counter evolving aerial and missile threats. Hanwha Systems’ extensive experience in radar development further strengthens the program, as the company has already delivered AESA radar solutions for the L-SAM long-range missile defense system, the KF-21 fighter aircraft, long-range artillery interception systems, and naval platforms such as Ulsan-class Batch-III frigates and KDDX destroyers.

The Cheongung-III program also builds on the strong export success of Cheongung-II. Since 2022, Cheongung-II has been exported to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq under contracts valued between approximately $867 million and $1.1 billion. With its enhanced capabilities and advanced radar technology, Cheongung-III is expected to attract similar international interest in the coming years.