Hanwha to supply $867 mn worth of radars to Saudi Arabia

[Courtesy of Hanwha Systems Co.]

South Korean defense solutions company Hanwha Systems Co. said on Tuesday that it secured a 1.2 trillion-won ($866.8 million) contract to supply multi-function radar (MFR) for the Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile (M-SAM) system, which will be exported to Saudi Arabia.

The deal is part of a larger 4.3 trillion-won contract between Korean defense firm LIG Nex1 Co. and Saudi Arabia for the export of the Cheongung-II system, which was signed in February 2024.

Hanwha Systems signed the supply contract with LIG Nex1 on the same day, the company said. Under this deal, LIG Nex1 is responsible for developing and producing the missile, Hanwha Systems for the radar, and Hanwha Aerospace Co. for the launcher and vehicles.

It is Hanwha Systems’ second contract worth more than 1 trillion won, following a previous agreement to provide MFR to the United Arab Emirates in 2022.

Cheongung-II, often referred to as the “Korean Patriot,” is a surface-to-air missile system capable of intercepting enemy aircraft and ballistic missiles from the ground. It is a key weapon in the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system to counter North Korean ballistic missiles.

Hanwha Systems’ MFR, which is part of the Cheongung-II interceptor missile system, can simultaneously detect and track enemy fighters and ballistic missiles approaching from all directions. By integrating multiple radar functions, it performs complex engagement missions such as detection, tracking, friend-or-foe identification, jamming response, guided missile capture, tracking, and communication using a three-dimensional (3D) phased array radar.