Military authorities have succeeded in the first intercept test of a long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM) called 'Korean THAAD'.
According to the military, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) recently successfully carried out a test launch to intercept a target missile with L-SAM in private.
L-SAM is considered a key weapon of the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD).
In this test launch, two types of missiles were fired, an anti-ballistic missile (ABM) and an anti-aircraft guided missile (AAM), and military leaders also observed.
L-SAM has undergone a flight test in early February in which it launches a projectile along a pre-set trajectory without a target.
The L-SAM interceptor missile launched at the time fell exactly at the planned impact point, and the flight test was evaluated successfully, and after about 9 months, the target interception test corresponding to the second stage was also successful.
L-SAM is being developed with the goal of intercepting North Korean ballistic missiles when they fly at an altitude of 50 to 60 km.
When L-SAM is deployed in actual combat, THAAD (High Altitude Area Defense System) defends the upper layer at an altitude of 40 to 150 km, Patriot (PAC-3) missile in charge of the lower layer at an altitude of 15 to 40 km, and medium-range surface-to-air missile (M) -SAM) A multi-layered defense system is established along with 'Cheongoong-II'.
The military plans to complete the development of the L-SAM system by the end of 2024 after additional test launches and evaluations, enter mass production in 2026, and deploy it in 2027-2028.
As North Korea's missiles advance, the timing of deployment may be delayed.
(Photo = capture of 'special video' provided by the Ministry of National Defense, Yonhap News)