SM Bexcel, a manufacturing and services affiliate of SM Group, announced on the 10th that it has completed delivery of lithium ampoule batteries for the 230mm-class unguided rockets of the Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system to Korea Defense Industry (KDI).
Chunmoo is a core weapon in South Korea's "three-axis defense system," comprising preemptive strike (Kill Chain), Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD), and Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR). With formidable firepower, range, and accuracy, it serves as a key asset capable of striking enemy provocation points, including long-range artillery, in counter-fire operations.
On the 2nd of this month, Chunmoo won a $922 million (approximately 1.3 trillion won) contract in Norway's Defense Materiel Agency (NDMA) next-generation long-range precision fire system project, beating Lockheed Martin's HIMARS and European KNDS's EURO-PULS.
The lithium ampoule battery used in Chunmoo's unguided rockets is an ultra-compact primary battery measuring 5mm. It performs functions including self-destruction inside the unguided rocket when a dud occurs. The component plays a critical role in enhancing the safety and operational capability of South Korea's weapons systems.
SM Bexcel's battery division contributed to Chunmoo's stable operation through this initial project while once again demonstrating its technological capability and supply capacity in defense batteries. With the second phase of the 230mm-class unguided rocket project now underway, SM Bexcel is in discussions with KDI with the goal of securing follow-on contracts and supply.
"By successfully completing the first lithium ampoule battery supply, we have further solidified our business foundation in the defense industry," said Choi Se-hwan, CEO of SM Bexcel's battery division. "Building on this, we hope to contribute to maximizing the global competitiveness of K-defense in the second project by leveraging our supply capability and quality."
SM Bexcel's battery division produces and sells primary batteries (including alkaline) under the well-known Bexel brand, as well as specialized batteries and battery packs for industrial and military applications. Recently, the company has secured new growth engines by acquiring technological capabilities in both lithium-ion batteries and lead-acid batteries for energy storage system (ESS) operations.
