Hanwha Aerospace (012450) has begun the second mass production of the air-to-ground guided missile “Sky Sword” for small armed helicopters (LAH). Tengam is Korea's first independently developed air-to-ground guided missile to support our military's anti-tank and close air support (CAS) capabilities. Also, although it was born as an air-to-ground guided missile, it is expected to play a key role in expanding the domestic defense export base in the future by seeking transformation into ground-based weapons, etc.
Hanwha Aerospace recently announced on the 3rd that it has signed a second mass production contract with the Defense Agency for the 225.4 billion won air-to-ground guided missile “Sky Sword” for small armed helicopters (LAH). Last year, Hanwha Aerospace secured a total mass production volume of 387.7 billion won, including the first mass production contract for Cheongun worth 162.3 billion won.
Hanwha Aerospace plans to deliver the second mass production volume of celestial sword guided missiles and launchers to the military by 2028. The Radiation Agency is also promoting the installation of celestial swords on landing attack helicopters currently under development, so additional projects are expected.
The development of Cheon Gum was completed in 2022 with the Defense Science Research Institute (ADD) overseeing research and development, and Hanwha Aerospace participated as a prototype. The celestial sword is a dual-mode explorer that can be operated day and night, and is not affected by enemy jamming attacks by applying a wired data link. Since targets can be modified even after launch, missions can be carried out according to changes in the battlefield.
In terms of performance such as range and penetration, it is estimated to be equal to or superior to the American-made “Hellfire,” which is a weapon system similar to overseas. It is known that the actual range of the celestial sword is more than double that of the US TOW (TOW) missile of the AH-1S attack helicopter (Cobra helicopter) operated by our military.
Hanwha Aerospace is diversifying launch platforms so that the celestial sword previously developed to be mounted on helicopters can also be used in manned and unmanned ground vehicles. In addition, a compact and lightweight “Sky Sword-L” is also being developed so that it can be mounted on turrets of infantry armored combat vehicles, tanks, etc., or directly operated by infantry.
Following the K9 self-propelled artillery and the multi-extension rocket 'Cheonmu', Tengam is attracting attention as the main export product of Hanwha Aerospace through diversification of platforms. In particular, the ground-to-ground version of the celestial sword can be electrified for use in ground weapon systems such as tanks, tactical vehicles, and armored vehicles. Currently, the Middle East is most commonly mentioned as the first exporter. It is reported that Hanwha Aerospace is already discussing the export of celestial swords with several Middle Eastern countries. In particular, Hanwha Aerospace plans to export the “Red Bag,” an infantry combat vehicle, and a “Tigon” wheeled armored vehicle equipped with a celestial sword, which has been improved so that it can be operated in the desert.
In addition, a plan to equip celestial swords with airborne power sources other than LAH, such as an amphibious attack helicopter (MAH), is also being considered. Since the celestial sword can be mounted on any platform if only a fire control device and radar are linked, it is expected that its usability will be endless even when linked to next-generation weapons in the future. An official from Hanwha Aerospace emphasized, “We will support the stable mass production of Cheon Gum and diversify platforms to contribute to diversification of Korean military power and actively promote customer-tailored exports.”
