'Steel Rain' Cheonmu Unguided Missile to be Operational from This Month [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Successful Domestic Development of Unguided Missiles... Final Acceptance Test on the 3rd
Unguided Missiles to be Supplied to Units Equipped with Cheonmu Starting This Month

The domestically developed new type of multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) ‘Cheonmu’ will begin operational deployment of its unguided rockets starting this month. The unguided rockets contain multiple smaller projectiles within a large shell, capable of completely devastating an area equivalent to three soccer fields. This is why Cheonmu is referred to as ‘Steel Rain’.

Yonhap News

According to a government official on the 2nd, “The final acceptance test for the unguided rockets, the first of its kind developed domestically, will be conducted on the 3rd at the Anheung Test Site of the Agency for Defense Development (ADD),” and added, “Following the acceptance test, the unguided rockets will be operationally deployed to units equipped with Cheonmu within this month.”

Cheonmu uses 239mm guided missiles and 230mm-class unguided rockets. The unguided rockets were produced by Hanwha Aerospace (formerly Hanwha Corporation) under a Manufacturing License Agreement (MLA) in the United States from 2002 to 2011. However, issues arose regarding license approval from the U.S., and exports also became problematic. The unguided rockets are also known as cluster munitions, which have a high potential for civilian casualties, leading the international community to classify them as a representative unethical weapon. European non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have campaigned against investing in cluster munition manufacturers, which has hindered ‘K-Defense’ exports. In fact, five countries?Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, and New Zealand?have legally banned investments in cluster munition companies. European pension funds such as the French Pension Reserve Fund, the Norwegian Government Pension Fund, the Swedish Pension Fund, the Dutch Civil Servants Pension Fund, and the Danish Public Pension Fund also avoid investing in cluster munition manufacturers.

Hanwha Aerospace spun off its unguided rocket business by establishing Korea Defense Industry (KDI). This was done because if businesses like unguided rockets become a hindrance when Hanwha Group seeks investment in Europe in the future, attracting investment could become difficult. KDI independently pursued the development of unguided rockets and passed accuracy tests in October. The failure rate of the unguided rockets developed by KDI is 0.1%, lower than the U.S. rate of 0.3%, thereby reducing civilian casualties.

If Cheonmu is exported, it will also bring hope for unguided rocket exports. Ukraine is reportedly eager to acquire unguided rockets immediately. Cheonmu’s compatibility is also a strength. While the main caliber is 239mm missiles, it can also fire up to 40 rounds of 130mm rockets, such as those used in the ‘Guryong’ multiple launch rocket system, which was previously the mainstay of the South Korean military. When exporting to Poland, it is being modified to use 122mm rockets, which are widely used in Europe.