[Courtesy of LIG Nex1]
South Korean troops began receiving an advanced home-made ATM (anti-tank missile) system called "Raybolt" that will compete against foreign brands such as Javelin made by Lockheed Martin of the United States.
LIG Nex1, a local defense firm, said that a ceremony was held at its factory in the southern city of Gumi to commence the delivery of Raybolt anti-tank missiles.
With technology transferred by the Agency for Defense Development (DAPA), a state research body, the Raybolt, known as Hyungung in Korean, has been developed to replace 90mm/106mm recoilless rifles and TOW missiles.
Hyungung is South Korea's first indigenously developed ATM system planned for local procurement and export. DAPA claimed earlier that it is smaller, lighter and more powerful than foreign Fire & Forget-type weapons such as Javelin and Israel's Spike-MR ATGMs.
LIG Nex1 described the portable medium-range ATM system as better than similar foreign products in the range, penetrating power, optical performance, detection and tracking performance. It will deliver an unspecified number of Raybolt missiles worth one trillion won (917 million US dollars) for five years.
Under a constant military threat from North Korea, South Korea has tried hard to produce guided precision weapons with independent technology.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
