Documents
South Korea LIG Nex1
Cheongung II (KM-SAM Block II)
A South Korean medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed with Russian technical assistance, providing hit-to-kill defense against aircraft and short-range ballistic missiles. Cheongung II adds ballistic-missile-defense capability over the original KM-SAM.
In service since 2017 · 2 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
40
km range
20,000
m altitude
6
targets
100
km radar
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
ROK export-licensed
DAPA-administered; aggressive export posture with financing/offset packages.
Channel: Government-to-government
Fielded & proven
Limited · 2 operators
In service since 2017. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 5 Mach |
|---|---|
| Engagement range Maximum distance at which an air-defense system can intercept targets. Higher covers more airspace. | 40 km |
| Engagement altitude Maximum target altitude the system can reach. | 20,000 m |
| Simultaneous targets Number of targets the system can engage at once. Higher resists saturation attacks. | 6 |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | Cheongung II interceptor missile |
|---|---|
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Hit-to-kill kinetic |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Hit-to-kill, Active radar homing |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art. | Multifunction phased array radar |
|---|---|
| Radar range Published detection range against a typical fighter-sized target. Higher sees first. | 100 km |
| Datalink Network connectivity: Link 16, MADL, national datalinks. Enables cooperative engagement. | Battery command network |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 2 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public LIG Nex1 and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Cheongung II (KM-SAM Block II) vs
NASAMS Frequently asked questions
What is the engagement range of the LIG Nex1 Cheongung II (KM-SAM Block II)? +
The LIG Nex1 Cheongung II (KM-SAM Block II) has a maximum engagement range of 40 km.
What is the main armament of the LIG Nex1 Cheongung II (KM-SAM Block II)? +
The LIG Nex1 Cheongung II (KM-SAM Block II)'s primary weapon is the Cheongung II interceptor missile.
What is the LIG Nex1 Cheongung II (KM-SAM Block II) used for? +
The LIG Nex1 Cheongung II (KM-SAM Block II) is a air defense system typically used for air defense.
How many countries operate the LIG Nex1 Cheongung II (KM-SAM Block II)? +
The LIG Nex1 Cheongung II (KM-SAM Block II) is operated by 2 countries.
How much does the LIG Nex1 Cheongung II (KM-SAM Block II) cost? +
LIG Nex1 Cheongung II (KM-SAM Block II): Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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