Hanwha Systems' 'Cheongung-II Multifunction Radar' Exported to Saudi Arabia

1.2 Trillion Won Scale... Second Export After UAE
Detection and Tracking of Aerial Enemy Aircraft and Ballistic Missiles

Hanwha Systems will supply the multifunction radar (MFR) for the 'Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile System-II (MSAM-II, Cheongung-II),' which signed an export contract with Saudi Arabia last February. The contract value is approximately $866.8 million (about 1.2 trillion KRW).

According to Hanwha Systems on the 9th, this marks the continuation of a second large-scale export deal worth over a trillion won following the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2022. At that time, the export amount was about $1.1 billion, equivalent to 1.3 trillion KRW.

Better known as Cheongung, the 'Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Guided Missile System' is a core asset of the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system developed with domestic technology. It is used to intercept enemy aircraft or ballistic missiles from the ground. The multifunction radar (MFR) by Hanwha Systems, which is the core of the Cheongung-II interceptor missile system, can simultaneously detect and track enemy fighter jets approaching from all directions as well as ballistic missiles.

By integrating multiple radar functions into one, it performs complex combat tasks such as detection, tracking, friend-or-foe identification, jamming (electronic countermeasures) response, and guided missile acquisition, tracking, and communication all at once using a three-dimensional phased array radar.

Hanwha Systems' Cheongung-II MFR was successfully developed in collaboration with the Agency for Defense Development and was operationalized in 2020. The company is currently supplying the upgraded version of the Cheongung MFR (Cheongung-II MFR).

The Cheongung export model for the Middle East is equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar to enhance detection and tracking performance, and it was able to penetrate the Saudi market following the UAE by considering the high temperatures and sand dust of the desert environment. Hanwha Systems plans to further improve the M-SAM MFR export model secured through the UAE export to meet the environmental conditions and requirements of Saudi Arabia before supplying it.

The Cheongung-II exported to Saudi Arabia is valued at a total of $3.2 billion (4.27 trillion KRW), with one battery consisting of multifunction radar, vertical launchers, and engagement control centers. Among these, Hanwha Systems will supply the multifunction radar, and Hanwha Aerospace will supply the launchers.