South Korea accelerates low-altitude missile defence system development

LIG Nex1 displayed a mock-up of its LAMD system at the DX Korea defence show in 2022. The missile is 165 mm in diameter and will intercept targets at a maximum firing range of 7 km and at an altitude of 5 km. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has accelerated the exploration and development of the low-altitude missile defence (LAMD) system – also known as the long-range artillery interception system – by a year, the agency said in a press release on 1 January.

According to DAPA, the system's exploration and development – originally scheduled for 2025 – has been accelerated to 2024 to counter North Korean long-range artillery.

South Korea's local military technology firm LIG Nex1 began developing the LAMD system in collaboration with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) – a DAPA subsidiary – in early 2022.

DAPA said that the LAMD exploration and development was initially planned for three years beginning in 2022.

However, to complete the LAMD's exploration and development in 2024 – one year earlier than planned – the system's core technological development was finished in June 2023, DAPA added.