South Korea to develop long-range interceptor for Iron Dome by 2028
Plans for the Iron Dome were approved in June 2021 to protect against North Korean long-range artillery. (Photo: DAPA)
Around US$329 million will be spent on the development of the interceptor which will work to protect national and military facilities from the threat of North Korean artillery.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has announced it held a meeting on 20 January with the Agency for Defense Development and prototype companies LIG Nexone, Hanwha Aerospace, and Hanwha Systems, to develop a long-range artillery interceptor system for its Iron Dome.
The Agency for Defense Development reportedly plans to spend around KRW479.8 billion (US$329 million) through to 2028 to develop the interceptor system.
The low-altitude missile defence (LAMD) system is seen as important by South Korea to protect places of national and military importance from the threat of North Korean missiles. The country’s development of its own Iron Dome, DAPA stated, would be designed with “superior capabilities to engage more targets at the same time” than the Israeli Iron Dome.
Bang Uk-chul, head of the guided weapons division of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), said: “The commencement of the development of the long-range artillery interception system means that we will directly secure a reliable air defence capability that protects the lives of the people and important facilities of the state and military from the threat of a large number of North Korean long-range artillery guns.”
South Korea’s intent to develop an Iron Dome was first revealed in 2021 when it announced the development of a KRW2.89 trillion (US$2.6 billion) indigenous air defence system.
In January 2025, DAPA said that it had gained approval to push forward the deployment schedule for the country’s LAMD system by two years, with a new timeframe of between 2025 and 2028.
More from Land Warfare
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Pearson Engineering to send AI mine detecting systems into Ukraine]()
Eurosatory 2026: Pearson Engineering to send AI mine detecting systems into Ukraine
Pearson Engineering’s Threat-Sense system is designed to use imaging from drones to geolocate scattered mines and support uncrewed systems in defeating the threats.
-
![Is motorisation set to be the next evolution of towed artillery?]()
Is motorisation set to be the next evolution of towed artillery?
Artillery remains a key tool on the modern battlefield. Artillery platforms, however, are increasingly at risk from enemy fire, whether from other artillery or uncrewed …
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Milrem expands partnerships as it outlines NATO eastern flank defence plans]()
Eurosatory 2026: Milrem expands partnerships as it outlines NATO eastern flank defence plans
In the past three months Milrem Robotics has signed cooperation agreements with Hanwha, EOS Defence Systems and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and at Eurosatory 2026 with CNIM Systèmes Industriels and Frankenburg Technologies. The deals come as the company develops its Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: GDELS and Thales combine proven tech to create reduced-risk CUAS]()
Eurosatory 2026: GDELS and Thales combine proven tech to create reduced-risk CUAS
Both Thales and GDELS shone a spotlight on their uncrewed and counter-drone efforts at Eurosatory 2026, highlighting the integration of mature technologies with stable C2 systems that are open to agnostic additions and expansion.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: IDV expands with new Viking and CL2X UGV]()
Eurosatory 2026: IDV expands with new Viking and CL2X UGV
At Eurosatory 2026, uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) are front and centre of IDV’s display, with a new variant of the Viking and the new CL2X on show.
