[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence video] Development of Supersonic Missile for KFX

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Our military is set to develop hypersonic missiles, a field where the United States, China, and Russia are competitively advancing. Additionally, research is underway to develop Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCM), considered one of the 'three major nuclear umbrella forces' alongside Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) and Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM). The military plans to equip these cutting-edge strategic missile weapons on the next-generation fighter jet (KFX) to be deployed in 2026.

The military is reportedly planning discussions with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and others to develop hypersonic guided missiles to be mounted on the KFX. The speed of hypersonic guided missiles reaches Mach 5, more than twice as fast as existing supersonic guided missiles (Mach 2.5). If launched from the skies over Seoul toward the North Korean command center in Pyongyang, located 250 km away, it can reach the target in just 1 minute and 15 seconds. The classification as a hypersonic missile requires a minimum speed of Mach 5 or higher. Once developed, Korea will become the fourth country in the world to develop hypersonic guided missiles, following the US, China, and Russia.

The military’s move to develop hypersonic guided missiles reaching Mach 5 speed appears to be both a measure to counter North Korea’s strategic weapons development and a response to the active development efforts by major powers around the Korean Peninsula.

Alongside this, the military has begun developing ALCMs capable of technically carrying nuclear warheads. The US ALCMs are cruise missiles mounted on long-range strategic bombers such as the B-52 or stealth strategic bombers like the B-2. If domestic technology successfully develops ALCMs, it would secure a weapons system that can contribute to the US nuclear umbrella operations in times of crisis, thereby strengthening the military’s deterrence posture.