ABU DHABI—Hanwha Systems is starting to push its L-SAM upper-tier air and missile defense system into the export market after the South Korean government officially declared the program’s development complete, says Giyeop Kim, a business development manager at the company.
Hanwha is hoping to replicate some of the export success it has had with the M-SAM medium-altitude system, which it has sold to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It is also pursuing more M-SAM deals, Kim says at the IDEX 2025 defense expo here.
The export push is kicking off as the company scales up production of the vehicle-mounted system and interceptors as it looks to deliver the first batteries to South Korea’s air force in 2027 and pursues development of a more capable interceptor, adds Sukdea Yu, senior manager for air defense systems at Hanwha.
L-SAM was designed in collaboration with the country’s Agency for Defense Development and South Korean company LIG Nex1.
An L-SAM battery typically includes a truck-mounted X-band multifunction radar, a control center and four launchers, each sporting six launch tubes.
Work is also underway on a high-altitude interceptor that will feature a redesigned motor to pack in more propellant. It will also carry a larger kill vehicle. Intercepts will remain endoatmospheric.
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