LIG Nex1 Partners with Raytheon to Pioneer US Missile Market

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] LIG Nex1 announced on the 24th that it has launched joint order marketing with the American company Raytheon to pioneer the U.S. defense market for domestically produced guided weapons.

At the beginning of this month, LIG Nex1 participated in the 'Sea-Air-Space Exposition 2021' held in Maryland, USA, introducing the 2.75-inch surface-to-ship guided rocket "Bigung" as an export strategic product and proposed a launcher system that can be applied to unmanned surface vessel platforms.

The Sea-Air-Space Exposition is the largest maritime and defense industry exhibition in the United States, which started in 1965. Raytheon, established in 1922, is a leading American defense company mainly producing missiles and radars. It is known domestically for products such as the Tomahawk cruise missile and the Patriot surface-to-air missile.

LIG Nex1 opened its U.S. office in 2009 and has continuously engaged with global defense companies in the North American region. Through technical cooperation with Raytheon, it plans to establish a foothold for entering the North American market.

The 2.75-inch surface-to-ship guided rocket Bigung, developed under the leadership of the Agency for Defense Development with participation from LIG Nex1, features a "fire-and-forget" method that can simultaneously engage multiple targets and has excellent mobility due to its vehicle-mounted design. The vehicle itself is equipped with target detection and fire control systems, enabling independent operations.

Additionally, Bigung demonstrated its performance during the U.S. Foreign Comparative Test (FCT) program in October 2019, including flight and firing tests as well as on-site inspections. The FCT is a U.S. Department of Defense program that tests and evaluates excellent equipment and technologies from allied countries not produced in the U.S.

LIG Nex1 is currently pursuing additional performance improvements reflecting the requirements of the U.S. Navy. Since last year, through the 'Weapon System Modification Development Support Project' led by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and operated by the Defense Technology Promotion Research Institute, it has been developing a "small vessel launcher system" that enables mounting the 2.75-inch guided rocket on unmanned surface vessels.

Kim Ji-chan, CEO of LIG Nex1, said, "Thanks to the full support of industry, academia, research institutes, and military personnel, as well as the dedication of R&D workers, we have been able to showcase the excellence of advanced domestic guided weapons in the U.S." He added, "We will do our best to ensure that close cooperation with Raytheon leads to further enhancing the status of South Korea's defense industry."