South Korea to propose its new Cheonryong cruise missile on both KF-21 fighter and FA-50 light attack aircraft
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As reported by Biz.Hankook on February 14, 2025, South Korea’s domestically developed air-launched cruise missile (KALCM), the Cheonryong, is currently undergoing flight tests after being mounted on the FA-50 light attack aircraft in Sacheon. Originally intended as a primary strike weapon for the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet, the Cheonryong’s testing on the FA-50 aims to fill a gap created by the retirement of the F-4 Phantom II, which was used in earlier separation tests. As the KF-21 remains in the flight testing phase and is not scheduled for operational deployment until 2026, the FA-50 has been selected as an interim test platform. Flight testing on the FA-50 began in late 2024, including a reported flight on December 18.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Cheonryong missile, also referred to as the Korean air-launched cruise missile (KALCM) or the Sky Dragon, has been under development since 2018, with exploratory development starting in 2016. (Picture source: NamuWiki)
The Cheonryong missile program is led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), with industrial participation from LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Aerospace. The missile was designed following the acquisition of 260 Taurus KEPD 350 missiles from Germany, which provided both operational experience and technology transfer, including high-resistance metal processing for penetrator warheads through KSC, a subsidiary of Woori Technology. KSC began domestic production of penetrators for the Taurus missiles in 2019. The Cheonryong, also described as a domestic equivalent to the Taurus, is part of a strategy to fill a projected gap of up to 600 long-range missiles in the South Korean Air Force (ROKAF) inventory by supplementing imported systems with domestically produced ones.
The missile’s development is budgeted at 810 billion won ($550.8 million), including 300 billion won ($204 million) for system development and 500 billion won ($340 million) for mass production. A total of 200 missiles are planned to be produced by 2031. The missile is currently expected to be deployed in 2028, with production beginning in 2029 or 2030. Flight separation tests using the F-4 were successfully conducted three times in 2021. On September 15, 2021, ADD announced the successful separation of the Cheonryong from an F-4 in flight. The missile unfolded its wings and maintained flight without propulsion, gliding to the target—although infrared traces suggest post-separation ignition shortly before impact.
The Cheonryong is a cruise missile weighing approximately 1,300 kg, with a stealth-shaped body, a turbojet engine, inertial and GNSS navigation systems, and an imaging infrared seeker for terminal guidance. The missile has a reported Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 1–2 meters and includes a penetrating warhead designed for striking underground targets such as command posts. It is reported to use fuel with a long shelf life (5–10 years), avoiding the need for pre-mission fueling. According to the most recent available data, it is expected to achieve speeds around Mach 0.9, with a range exceeding 500 km when mounted on the KF-21, and approximately 350 km when carried by the FA-50 with reduced fuel load. The final name of the missile, Cheonryong, was confirmed at the 2021 Seoul ADEX defense exhibition.
The addition of the Cheonryong to FA-50 and KF-21 armament is expected to improve operational flexibility and could strengthen South Korea’s defense manufacturing sector through enhanced export options. According to publicly available data, comparable missile systems include the German Taurus (1.4 tons, 500 km), France’s Scalp EG (1.4 tons, 1,000 km), the US AGM-86 (1.4 tons, 2,400 km), and the AGM-129 ACM (1.68 tons, 3,700 km). The Cheonryong is reported to weigh less than the Taurus, have a range of approximately 400 km in its current configuration, and share similar or greater stealth and precision capabilities, depending on the platform and configuration.
The addition of the Cheonryong to both FA-50 and KF-21 armament is expected to improve operational flexibility and could strengthen South Korea’s defense manufacturing sector through enhanced export options. (Picture source: LIG Nex1)
The missile’s dimensions and propulsion have been adjusted to ensure compatibility with both the KF-21 and FA-50. It measures 4.9 meters in length and is equipped with a turbofan engine. While originally sized for the KF-21, a version with a reduced fuel load has been mounted on the FA-50, avoiding the need to develop a separate missile. No changes to the missile’s external structure have been confirmed. At ADEX 2019, LIG Nex1 presented a full-scale mockup of the missile under the name Long-Range Air-to-Ground Guided Missile II. ADEX 2023 confirmed continued development, with LIG Nex1 exhibiting both traditional guided weapons and new propulsion solutions. In parallel, LIG Nex1 and Taurus Systems signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop a medium-range missile (MALCM/KEPD 350K2) based on the Taurus but resized to be compatible with the FA-50.
The Cheonryong is part of South Korea’s broader strategy to enhance its independent strike capabilities and defense export competitiveness. Given the strategic nature of long-range air-to-ground missiles, South Korea’s locally developed alternatives also address restrictions on importing similar missiles for integration into both the KF-21 Boramae and the FA-50 Fighting Eagle. For instance, in October 2024, the ADD publicly displayed a new supersonic air-to-surface missile for the first time at the Sacheon Air Show. This missile, under development by Hanwha Aerospace and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in collaboration with ADD since 2022, is designed to fly at Mach 2.5 and strike targets at a 300 km range. It features a ducted ramjet engine, modular design, radar and EO/IR seeker systems, and is also intended to boost the export competitiveness of both aircraft. Flight tests are scheduled to begin in 2025. The new missile is being considered for further adaptation with a rocket booster for ship- or truck-based launch platforms and is viewed as a replacement candidate for older subsonic anti-ship missiles.
The FA-50 Fighting Eagle, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) based on the T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer, has emerged as South Korea’s leading export-oriented light fighter. More than 200 units of the T-50 family—including TA-50, FA-50, and T-50 variants—have been manufactured since production began in 2001. FA-50s have been delivered to multiple countries, including the Philippines, Iraq, Thailand, Indonesia, Poland, and Malaysia. The FA-50’s attractiveness lies in its cost-effectiveness, ease of pilot conversion from existing F-16 platforms, and expanding capabilities through upgrades such as Block 20, which includes AESA radar, aerial refueling, and beyond-visual-range missile integration. The recent integration of the Cheonryong air-to-ground cruise missile further enhances the platform’s strike potential, positioning the FA-50 as a lightweight multirole option for countries seeking rapid force projection capabilities with modern precision-guided munitions.
The KF-21 Boramae, a more advanced 4.5-generation twin-engine fighter jointly developed by South Korea and Indonesia, is being positioned as a long-term multirole combat aircraft for both domestic use and export. While six prototypes have been built so far and over 1,000 sorties were completed by November 2024, full-scale production is scheduled to begin in 2026. The KF-21 has already attracted interest from multiple countries such as the Philippines, Poland, Peru, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. The availability of AESA radar, long-range standoff missiles, and a stealth-compatible airframe design—alongside ongoing efforts to incorporate advanced avionics, electronic warfare variants, and potentially carrier-based and stealth-enhanced derivatives—make the KF-21 a platform with long-term export ambitions. South Korea plans to field 120 KF-21s by 2032. Block 1 will cover air-to-air missions, while Block 2 will include full multirole capability including air-to-ground strike. The strategic pairing of these aircraft with indigenous weapon systems like the Cheonryong will further enhance their competitiveness in international markets.
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As reported by Biz.Hankook on February 14, 2025, South Korea’s domestically developed air-launched cruise missile (KALCM), the Cheonryong, is currently undergoing flight tests after being mounted on the FA-50 light attack aircraft in Sacheon. Originally intended as a primary strike weapon for the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet, the Cheonryong’s testing on the FA-50 aims to fill a gap created by the retirement of the F-4 Phantom II, which was used in earlier separation tests. As the KF-21 remains in the flight testing phase and is not scheduled for operational deployment until 2026, the FA-50 has been selected as an interim test platform. Flight testing on the FA-50 began in late 2024, including a reported flight on December 18.
The Cheonryong missile, also referred to as the Korean air-launched cruise missile (KALCM) or the Sky Dragon, has been under development since 2018, with exploratory development starting in 2016. (Picture source: NamuWiki)
The Cheonryong missile program is led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), with industrial participation from LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Aerospace. The missile was designed following the acquisition of 260 Taurus KEPD 350 missiles from Germany, which provided both operational experience and technology transfer, including high-resistance metal processing for penetrator warheads through KSC, a subsidiary of Woori Technology. KSC began domestic production of penetrators for the Taurus missiles in 2019. The Cheonryong, also described as a domestic equivalent to the Taurus, is part of a strategy to fill a projected gap of up to 600 long-range missiles in the South Korean Air Force (ROKAF) inventory by supplementing imported systems with domestically produced ones.
The missile’s development is budgeted at 810 billion won ($550.8 million), including 300 billion won ($204 million) for system development and 500 billion won ($340 million) for mass production. A total of 200 missiles are planned to be produced by 2031. The missile is currently expected to be deployed in 2028, with production beginning in 2029 or 2030. Flight separation tests using the F-4 were successfully conducted three times in 2021. On September 15, 2021, ADD announced the successful separation of the Cheonryong from an F-4 in flight. The missile unfolded its wings and maintained flight without propulsion, gliding to the target—although infrared traces suggest post-separation ignition shortly before impact.
The Cheonryong is a cruise missile weighing approximately 1,300 kg, with a stealth-shaped body, a turbojet engine, inertial and GNSS navigation systems, and an imaging infrared seeker for terminal guidance. The missile has a reported Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 1–2 meters and includes a penetrating warhead designed for striking underground targets such as command posts. It is reported to use fuel with a long shelf life (5–10 years), avoiding the need for pre-mission fueling. According to the most recent available data, it is expected to achieve speeds around Mach 0.9, with a range exceeding 500 km when mounted on the KF-21, and approximately 350 km when carried by the FA-50 with reduced fuel load. The final name of the missile, Cheonryong, was confirmed at the 2021 Seoul ADEX defense exhibition.
The addition of the Cheonryong to FA-50 and KF-21 armament is expected to improve operational flexibility and could strengthen South Korea’s defense manufacturing sector through enhanced export options. According to publicly available data, comparable missile systems include the German Taurus (1.4 tons, 500 km), France’s Scalp EG (1.4 tons, 1,000 km), the US AGM-86 (1.4 tons, 2,400 km), and the AGM-129 ACM (1.68 tons, 3,700 km). The Cheonryong is reported to weigh less than the Taurus, have a range of approximately 400 km in its current configuration, and share similar or greater stealth and precision capabilities, depending on the platform and configuration.
The addition of the Cheonryong to both FA-50 and KF-21 armament is expected to improve operational flexibility and could strengthen South Korea’s defense manufacturing sector through enhanced export options. (Picture source: LIG Nex1)
The missile’s dimensions and propulsion have been adjusted to ensure compatibility with both the KF-21 and FA-50. It measures 4.9 meters in length and is equipped with a turbofan engine. While originally sized for the KF-21, a version with a reduced fuel load has been mounted on the FA-50, avoiding the need to develop a separate missile. No changes to the missile’s external structure have been confirmed. At ADEX 2019, LIG Nex1 presented a full-scale mockup of the missile under the name Long-Range Air-to-Ground Guided Missile II. ADEX 2023 confirmed continued development, with LIG Nex1 exhibiting both traditional guided weapons and new propulsion solutions. In parallel, LIG Nex1 and Taurus Systems signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop a medium-range missile (MALCM/KEPD 350K2) based on the Taurus but resized to be compatible with the FA-50.
The Cheonryong is part of South Korea’s broader strategy to enhance its independent strike capabilities and defense export competitiveness. Given the strategic nature of long-range air-to-ground missiles, South Korea’s locally developed alternatives also address restrictions on importing similar missiles for integration into both the KF-21 Boramae and the FA-50 Fighting Eagle. For instance, in October 2024, the ADD publicly displayed a new supersonic air-to-surface missile for the first time at the Sacheon Air Show. This missile, under development by Hanwha Aerospace and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in collaboration with ADD since 2022, is designed to fly at Mach 2.5 and strike targets at a 300 km range. It features a ducted ramjet engine, modular design, radar and EO/IR seeker systems, and is also intended to boost the export competitiveness of both aircraft. Flight tests are scheduled to begin in 2025. The new missile is being considered for further adaptation with a rocket booster for ship- or truck-based launch platforms and is viewed as a replacement candidate for older subsonic anti-ship missiles.
The FA-50 Fighting Eagle, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) based on the T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer, has emerged as South Korea’s leading export-oriented light fighter. More than 200 units of the T-50 family—including TA-50, FA-50, and T-50 variants—have been manufactured since production began in 2001. FA-50s have been delivered to multiple countries, including the Philippines, Iraq, Thailand, Indonesia, Poland, and Malaysia. The FA-50’s attractiveness lies in its cost-effectiveness, ease of pilot conversion from existing F-16 platforms, and expanding capabilities through upgrades such as Block 20, which includes AESA radar, aerial refueling, and beyond-visual-range missile integration. The recent integration of the Cheonryong air-to-ground cruise missile further enhances the platform’s strike potential, positioning the FA-50 as a lightweight multirole option for countries seeking rapid force projection capabilities with modern precision-guided munitions.
The KF-21 Boramae, a more advanced 4.5-generation twin-engine fighter jointly developed by South Korea and Indonesia, is being positioned as a long-term multirole combat aircraft for both domestic use and export. While six prototypes have been built so far and over 1,000 sorties were completed by November 2024, full-scale production is scheduled to begin in 2026. The KF-21 has already attracted interest from multiple countries such as the Philippines, Poland, Peru, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. The availability of AESA radar, long-range standoff missiles, and a stealth-compatible airframe design—alongside ongoing efforts to incorporate advanced avionics, electronic warfare variants, and potentially carrier-based and stealth-enhanced derivatives—make the KF-21 a platform with long-term export ambitions. South Korea plans to field 120 KF-21s by 2032. Block 1 will cover air-to-air missions, while Block 2 will include full multirole capability including air-to-ground strike. The strategic pairing of these aircraft with indigenous weapon systems like the Cheonryong will further enhance their competitiveness in international markets.
