Following the US initiative to develop the next-generation missile defense shield, Golden Dome, now South Korea has announced that it is working on developing a Low-Altitude Missile Defense (LAMD) shield, referring to it as a ‘Korean-style Iron Dome,’ which will protect the Seoul capital area.
The South Korean government has selected Hanwha Systems to develop the multi-function radar (MFR) for the ambitious missile defense shield.
“Hanwha Systems had been selected as the prototype developer for the LAMD multi-function radar, a project led by the Agency for Defense Development(ADD),” Hanwha said in a statement.
The project to develop the multi-function radar is estimated to cost KRW 131.5 billion (approximately USD 92 million) and is scheduled for completion by November 2028.
The announcement comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two Koreas. Last month, the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) arrived in Busan, South Korea, for a scheduled port visit, along with its strike group, which consisted of the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton and the Aegis-equipped destroyer USS Sterett.
Earlier in February, the US fast-attack submarine USS Alexandria docked in the port city of Busan. On both occasions, North Korea responded with threats of provocative missile tests.
South Korea and the US also conducted the ‘Freedom Shield’ military drills last month, while North Korea responded with a strategic ‘missile test’ and threats of nuclear escalation.
South Korea’s announcement to develop its next-generation missile defense shield will surely rattle North Korea, which has an extensive missile development program.
LAMD: The Korean ‘Iron Dome’
In its statement, Hanwha Systems said that it aims to develop a next-generation radar system that surpasses the capabilities of Israel’s Iron Dome in handling multiple simultaneous targets in a dense threat environment.
“The LAMD is designed to intercept large numbers of missiles flying at low altitudes and over short distances,” Hanwha said, adding that since the system can respond to missiles approaching major facilities, LAMD is expected to serve as the ‘final shield’ for the capital area.
LAMD’s multi-function radar system will perform complex missions, including detection, tracking, friend-or-foe identification, missile guidance, and intercept confirmation for all-around and multiple targets.
Thus, the multi-function radar system will serve as the ‘eyes’ of the surface-to-air missile system.
According to the government’s requirements, the LAMD must be capable of distinguishing and tracking hundreds of individual missiles flying in clusters in real time within a confined airspace.
As such, this would be one of the most technologically advanced radar systems in the world, Hanwha said in its statement.
It is worth noting that the Russian S-400 and the Chinese-built HQ-9B, two of the most advanced air defense systems, can also track up to 100 missiles simultaneously.
However, LAMD’s ability to detect and track, even low-flying aerial threats such as drones and cruise missiles, will add a crucial advantage.
“It is hard to imagine an advanced and cutting-edge ‘air defense system’ without radar,” said Hyuk Park, Head of Hanwha Systems’ Defense Electronics Division. “Our focus is on advancing radar technologies that strengthen national defense and drive the expansion of our global defense exports.”
The Golden Dome
The Ukraine War and the ongoing hostilities with the Houthis in the Red Sea have shown the central role armed drones will play in any future conflict. Besides, China and Russia are developing new hypersonic weapons, which have the potential to penetrate existing air defense systems.
These new challenges have underlined the necessity for upgrading the existing air defense systems, and the US is developing its own version of Iron Dome, called the Golden Dome.
It is one of President Donald Trump’s pet projects, and the US Congress has recently proposed funding of USD 25 billion for the missile defense shield.
Hanwha: Asian Lockheed Martin In The Making
Hanwha Systems, a leader in South Korea’s defense industry and radar technology, has a strong track record in radar development, including solutions for surface-to-air missile systems, naval platforms such as the FFX Batch-III frigate, and the KF-21 fighter aircraft.
The company’s K9 Thunder howitzers are a worldwide success. In recent times, many countries, including Poland, Finland, India, and Norway, have doubled their K9 fleets. The K9 Thunder has also been exported to countries like Australia, Egypt, Estonia, Romania, and Turkey.
The South Korean defense firm is also referred to as the next Asian Lockheed Martin, and its stock has seen massive success in recent years.
Hanwha Aerospace shares have risen by more than 3,100% in the last five years, and by more than 175% in the previous year, making it the best-performing defense stock on Bloomberg’s WORLD index.
The unprecedented rally in Hanwha’s stock is also reflected in its revenue performance, which has continued to soar over the past two years.
In 2024, the South Korean defense company recorded its second consecutive year of record-breaking sales, achieving a historic milestone as its overseas sales exceeded domestic sales for the first time in its history.
According to Hanwha Aerospace’s regulatory filing released in early 2025, the company recorded total revenue of 11.25 trillion won (US$7.74 billion) in 2024, reflecting a 43% year-on-year increase.
Its operating profit surged by 190% compared to the previous year, reaching 1.72 trillion won (US$1.18 billion). With these figures, Hanwha Aerospace became the first South Korean defense firm to surpass 10 trillion won (US$6.88 billion) in annual revenue, and 1 trillion won (US$688 million) in operating profit.
The company attributed its financial success primarily to its defense division, which generated approximately 7 trillion won (US$4.82 billion) in revenue and 1.57 trillion won (US$1.08 billion) in operating profit.
The strong demand for Hanwha’s advanced land defense systems, including the K9 self-propelled howitzer, the Chunmoo multi-caliber rocket artillery system, and the Skyfall 120-millimeter self-propelled mortar system, drove the performance.
A key highlight of 2024 was the sharp increase in Hanwha Aerospace’s exports, which amounted to 4.4 trillion won (US$3.03 billion), surpassing its domestic sales of 4 trillion won (US$2.75 billion).
- Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from the University of Sheffield, UK.
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