[Military Story] Luxury Missile Cheongung-II Is Born Here [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

LIG Nex1 Kimcheon House Visit
Missile Production in Full Swing for Middle Eastern Export

‘K-Defense Export Star Product’ Cheongung is emerging as a key item. Cheongung is a missile designed to counter enemy aircraft and ballistic missiles penetrating at medium and low altitudes. It not only replaces Nike and Hawk missiles but is also called the ‘Korean Patriot missile’ capable of intercepting North Korean ballistic missiles. Interest from Middle Eastern countries is also high. Cheongung-II secured a contract worth 2.6 trillion KRW in 2022 from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), followed by significant contracts from Saudi Arabia (2023, 4.3 trillion KRW) and Iraq (September, 3.7 trillion KRW). We visited LIG Nex1’s Gimcheon House, where Cheongung II is produced.

At Gimcheon House, Cheongung missiles are produced, loaded into launch tubes, and undergo final inspections. (Photo by LIG Nex1)

The Cheongung-II missile takes about 20 days to assemble 10 major components, including the propulsion system and ammunition. (Photo by LIG Nex1)

Gimcheon House was surrounded by Geumosan Mountain, which stands 976 meters tall. The factory area alone covers 200,000 pyeong (approximately 660,000 square meters), with 17 production buildings spread across the mountain foothills. The buildings are located between mountains, providing protection from enemies and enhancing safety against explosion accidents. The factory perimeter was enclosed by walls and barbed wire fences. Watchtowers were visible along the mountain ridges. At the mountain summit, there is a storage building for the produced missiles. A company official stated, “Due to the recent increase in missile exports, we plan to construct a new storage building.”

Dense Partition Walls Installed Throughout to Prevent Accidents

The Cheongung-II missile interception system consists of five vehicles: launcher, multifunction radar, loading equipment, power supply unit, and engagement control center. Additional launcher-mounted vehicles can be added depending on the mission. Missiles are loaded onto the Cheongung II launcher. At Gimcheon House, Cheongung missiles are produced, loaded into launch tubes, and undergo final inspections. Between all buildings at Gimcheon House, 5-meter-high partition walls were erected as a measure to prevent secondary accidents in case of an explosion. The interiors are similarly compartmentalized. Each workspace is designed like a room, separated by 30 cm thick walls. Upon entering the G11 building, where Cheongung-II missiles are produced, the ‘number one enemy’ was static electricity. Employees were required to leave their mobile phones outside the factory and were prohibited from touching the missiles directly. All staff wore anti-static gloves. The missiles being produced were connected to grounding wires to prevent static electricity buildup. The area was divided into 5 to 6 small rooms, all impeccably clean without a speck of dust.

Upon entering the assembly hall, Cheongung-II missiles, launch tubes, and launchers were visible. The launch tubes came in two colors: desert tan and military green. The desert tan color was for units exported to Middle Eastern countries, while the military green was for domestic military supply. Seokbeom Son, head of the Gimcheon production team, said, “This is the first missile to be exported to the UAE,” adding, “It has completed all final inspections.”

From Assembly to Final Inspection in 20 Days

The Cheongung-II missile is composed of 10 major components, including the propulsion system and ammunition. Assembly takes 20 days, during which all missile inspections must be completed. The missile, approximately 7 meters long, was placed on an assembly stand and assembled entirely by hand, including screwing in parts. Even skilled workers followed a multi-page assembly manual step-by-step. The manual resembled the instruction booklets found in childhood model kits. Various tools were used, with over 30 types arranged according to each assembly step.

Inspection was as meticulous as assembly. Even parts that had passed quality control were re-inspected after assembly. The missile was placed on the assembly stand with only the front part inserted into a container. The front of the missile was equipped with a seeker. The seeker accurately detects and analyzes the target missile by sensing heat generated from its propulsion system, locking onto the target. The container functions as a chamber facility. Inside the chamber walls, thousands of carbon fiber electromagnetic wave absorbers, resembling thorns on tree branches, were attached to prevent interference from external electromagnetic waves during testing. When virtual simulated target information is provided by the inspection equipment, the Cheongung-II missile undergoes a final test to verify its tracking capability. Additionally, more than six types of tests related to electronic components are conducted exclusively in this test facility.

Second in the World to Develop Vertical Ejection Launch Technology

Cheongung-I and Cheongung-II differ in their missile interception methods. Cheongung-I’s warhead separates into multiple fragments to destroy the missile, which inevitably causes secondary damage on the ground from falling debris. Cheongung-II uses a hit-to-kill method, directly striking the target, resulting in a higher interception rate.

Cheongung-II can respond to enemy aircraft or ballistic missiles approaching from any direction. The missile is ejected vertically from the launcher and then changes direction mid-air to fly toward the target. This is called the ‘cold launch’ method. There is no need to rotate the launcher toward the target, improving accuracy. Since no flame is produced during launch, the launch site’s location is concealed, enhancing the weapon system’s reliability and survivability. The vertical ejection launch technology was independently developed as the second in the world after Russia. One critical aspect of cold launch technology is deploying the missile’s control fins the moment it leaves the launcher. An employee demonstrated this by slightly folding the fins with a long screwdriver and then releasing them, producing a ‘click’ sound as the fins locked into position. The final painting process took six days. Painting is necessary to prevent rust and corrosion, and the process of painting and drying was repeated over six days.

Im Wonkil, head of the Gimcheon production team, said, “Cheongung-II, made by our own hands, is rising as a star product not only for national security but also for K-defense exports, boosting employee morale,” adding, “Since it must achieve a 100% hit rate once launched, we are doing our utmost.”