South Korea’s LIG Defense & Aerospace (D&A) has started assembling prototype missiles for the ROK Navy’s Ship-to-Air Missile-II (KSAM-II) program, an indigenous SM-2 replacement for future surface combatants.
South Korea is set to begin production of the first flight-test missiles for its Ship-to-Air Missile-II (함대공유도탄-II in Korean) program this month, according to a July 14 report by Asia Business Daily.
The report, published following the newspaper’s visit to LIG D&A’s dedicated missile assembly and inspection facility in Gumi, also revealed previously undisclosed details about the missile’s dimensions, assembly process and expected performance.
The missile is approximately six meters long and consists of a forward guidance section, a main body containing the warhead and propulsion system, and a rear booster. Each missile will pass through approximately 20 assembly stages, with the entire process taking around three months.
The Ship-to-Air Missile-II is being developed as an indigenous long-range air-defense weapon for the Republic of Korea Navy’s future surface combatants. LIG D&A was selected as the prime contractor for the program in 2024, with development scheduled to continue through 2030.
The system-development contract is valued at KRW 330.6 billion, while DAPA has placed the total program cost, including production, at approximately KRW 690 billion. The missile is being developed with a target localization rate of more than 90 percent.
The missile is designed for the Korean Vertical Launching System and is planned for installation aboard the future KDDX destroyer, with one missile carried per launch cell. It is intended to provide the ROK Navy with a domestically developed capability against aircraft and incoming anti-ship missiles.
Asia Business Daily also reported that the missile is designed to reach speeds of around Mach 5 and withstand maneuvering loads of up to 17G. More than ten test launches are expected to be conducted before the missile enters service.
As a domestically produced replacement for the U.S.-made SM-2, the Ship-to-Air Missile-II could give the ROK Navy greater control over procurement, maintenance and stockpile replenishment while reducing its exposure to delays or disruptions affecting overseas missile supplies.
The Ship-to-Air Missile-II is based on the anti-aircraft missile variant of South Korea’s L-SAM. Although its L-SAM lineage has prompted speculation about a future naval ballistic-missile interceptor, no official plan for an ABM variant has been announced.
Check out Naval News’ video coverage of the K-SAAM II at MADEX 2025:
