Hanwha Systems to develop radar for South Korea's L-SAM II

A model of Hanwha Systems' multifunction radar for the RoK Armed Forces' L-SAM II, displayed at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) 2025 held in Abu Dhabi in February. (Hanwha Systems)

South Korea's Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has awarded a contract worth USD40 million to Hanwha Systems to develop a multifunction radar (MFR) for the Republic of Korea (RoK) Armed Forces' future long-range surface-to-air missile II (L-SAM II) interceptor.

The MFR will function as the “eyes” of L-SAM II, Hanwha Systems announced on 27 May. “[The MFR] can detect and track multiple long-range targets in real time while also performing key functions such as friend-or-foe identification of aircraft and missile guidance, making it essential for engaging ballistic missile threats,” the company said.

Hanwha Systems has also supplied the MFR for L-SAM. The L-SAM II MFR has “significantly extended” detection and tracking ranges for ballistic missile targets compared with the L-SAM MFR, the company added.

The enhanced capabilities of the L-SAM II MFR enable it to “more reliably support” the interception of high-speed, high-altitude threats including long-range ballistic missiles and hostile aircraft, Hanwha Systems said. The MFR can also help to distinguish between friendly assets, threats, and non-threatening objects such as debris, enhancing the overall efficiency of operations, the company added.

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) formally launched the L-SAM II project worth KRW567.7 billion (USD413.3 million) in mid-January. DAPA has said that the range of L-SAM II will be “three [to] four times” greater than L-SAM, the development of which was completed in May 2024.

L-SAM was developed by ADD in co-operation with LIG Nex1. An LIG Nex1 official told Janes