Targeting Ground Drones After Naval Interception Systems [Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club]

LIG Nex1 Succeeds in Localizing CIWS
Ground-Based System Needed to Protect Key National Facilities Such as Power Plants

In September 2019, Yemeni rebels backed by Iran attacked two sites in Saudi Arabia, including the Khurais oil field. The only means of attack was ten suicide drones. The impact was significant. On that day, international oil prices fluctuated sharply. Both West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude oil futures surged by more than 10%.

CIWS is a weapon system that intercepts enemy missiles, aircraft, or drones in close proximity to defend the vessel. Photo by LIG Nex1.

The South Korean military also became highly alert. This was due to a series of incidents in 2014, when small North Korean drones were discovered in Paju, Baengnyeong Island, and Samcheok. Since then, small flying objects presumed to be drones have appeared near the Kori Nuclear Power Plant in Gijang-gun, Busan, and the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, increasing the possibility of drone-related terrorism. Military experts point out that if multiple drones attack simultaneously, anti-aircraft defense systems such as Vulcan cannons are severely inadequate. In effect, this means the country is virtually defenseless. The domestically developed Close-In Weapon System (CIWS-II) by LIG Nex1, a South Korean defense company, is emerging as an alternative. To assess the performance of CIWS-II, I visited the LIG Nex1 factory in Gumi.

CIWS is a weapon system that intercepts enemy missiles, aircraft, or drones in close proximity to defend the vessel. It serves as the "last shield" of a ship, acting as the final line of defense in case long-range surface-to-air missiles fail to intercept incoming threats. The development of CIWS began during the Third Middle East War. On October 21, 1967, a squadron of Egyptian Navy Komar-class missile boats fired four Styx anti-ship missiles at the Israeli destroyer Eilat near Port Said, located at the northern end of the Suez Canal in Egypt. The Israeli destroyer had no means of defense and was struck helplessly. Of the 190 crew members, 47 were killed and 41 wounded. Witnessing this, the Dutch company Thales and the American company Raytheon began developing defensive weapon systems. They created the "Goalkeeper" and "Phalanx" CIWS, respectively, and started to dominate the global CIWS market.

About 45 of these CIWS units have been installed on South Korean Navy vessels. The problem began when Dutch company Thales discontinued production of the Goalkeeper due to productivity concerns. The Goalkeeper units installed on South Korean naval vessels faced challenges in performance upgrades, maintenance, and parts procurement. The cost of parts also increased. The price of the drive motor that moves the gun rose from 600 million won to 2 billion won, more than tripling. Localization became urgent. In 2021, the government launched a project to localize the CIWS, investing a total of 350 billion won and selecting LIG Nex1 as the system developer. The plan was to fully utilize the specialized personnel and dedicated maintenance facilities gained through experience in the country's only 30mm Goalkeeper overhaul business. A representative from LIG Nex1 stated, "We plan to complete system development by 2027 and deploy it in actual operations by 2030."

Difficulties in Maintenance and Parts Procurement for Imported CIWS

The Goalkeeper and Phalanx CIWS are referred to as CIWS-I, meaning first-generation systems. The CIWS-II, developed by LIG Nex1, is a purely domestic second-generation model. CIWS-I, developed overseas, was created over 50 years ago and differs significantly in system design from the localized CIWS-II. The primary difference lies in the radar. The existing Phalanx and Goalkeeper are equipped with mechanical radars.

In contrast, CIWS-II uses an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which can accurately detect, track, and destroy supersonic anti-ship missiles traveling at speeds above Mach 3. It can also respond to both supersonic missiles and subsonic threats. While a mechanical radar obtains information once per second, the AESA radar acquires information ten times per second. Additionally, it is equipped with Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS). Whereas the EOTS in CIWS-I was limited to identifying targets, in CIWS-II, it serves as an auxiliary sensor to the radar, enabling even more precise target tracking. The South Korean military plans to install CIWS-II on the next-generation Korean frigate (FFX-III), followed by the next-generation destroyer (KDDX) and light aircraft carrier (CVX), as soon as development is completed.

CIWS-II is planned to be developed not only for naval vessels but also for ground use. Photo by LIG Nex1.

Upon ascending to the rooftop of the LIG Nex1 Gumi plant, the actual CIWS-II came into view. The CIWS-II, installed on a ship motion simulator, stood as tall as 7 meters. The ship motion simulator is equipment that replicates the complex movements experienced by real vessels on rough seas, but on land.

An LIG Nex1 representative explained, "This device can simulate sea state 5 or higher, which is a level of rough waves equivalent to typhoon conditions. CIWS-II undergoes relentless pitching (forward and backward motion) and rolling (side-to-side motion) on this simulator, and its stabilization performance is verified to ensure it does not lose track of targets."

Ground Testing That Replicates Maritime Conditions

CIWS-II begins by detecting a virtual "simulated target signal" fired from the "Beacon Tower" located across the Nakdong River from the test site. This signal mimics the radar reflection characteristics of actual anti-ship missiles or drones. The final test is to determine whether the CIWS-II, violently shaken on the ship motion simulator, possesses the unwavering vision and control required to operate on a pitching vessel. Kim Sanghyun, head of the development team, stated, "CIWS-II is a comprehensive weapon system combining ammunition, guns, fire control devices, and radar. Since it integrates various weapons, multiple test evaluations are essential."

There are also plans to develop CIWS-II for ground use, in addition to naval applications. The Phalanx system has already been adapted for ground use. The "C-RAM" (Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar), which intercepts mortar shells fired by Iraqi insurgents, is a representative example. As the name suggests, it is equipment that intercepts rockets, howitzers, and mortars. Both inside and outside the military, there is a growing consensus that ground-based CIWS-II is urgently needed. Concerns arose when Israel's Iron Dome, which boasts an interception rate of over 90%, failed to defend against more than 5,000 rockets launched by Hamas.

The Need for Ground-Based Systems to Intercept North Korean Long-Range Artillery

The South Korean military plans to develop the Long-range Artillery Interception System (LAMD), known as the "Korean Iron Dome," by 2026. The plan is to deploy dozens of LAMD units in Seoul and the metropolitan area to intercept 240mm and 300mm North Korean long-range artillery. However, currently, there are more than 1,000 various artillery pieces deployed in North Korean areas near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), capable of firing over 16,000 shells per hour. If these were to be unleashed on Seoul and the metropolitan area, additional countermeasures would be necessary. Some experts suggest that at least 500 ground-based CIWS-II units would be required to protect key national facilities such as power plants.

Hong Seongpyo, head of the CIWS-II development team, stated, "Starting this year, we will invest 6 billion won to reduce costs for exports and ground-based development, as well as to advance technology development."