South Korea Develops Cruise Missile for FA-50

South Korea has tested a new cruise missile for FA-50 light fighter jets.

A video of the flight test was published by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

The new cruise missile, known as Celestial Dragon or KALCM, is designed for use with new Korean aircraft, including the FA-50 Block 20 and KF-21 aircraft.

The missile is expected to significantly enhance the strike capabilities of light aircraft and offer potential buyers expanded capabilities for striking deep into enemy territory.

It is known that the maximum flight range of the Celestial Dragon is over 800 km, and its maximum speed is about Mach 1.

The new missile’s guidance system is combined and includes an inertial system, GPS correction, and an infrared homing head with enhanced target identification thanks to built-in artificial intelligence.

As noted by DAPA, the missile is expected to become an affordable element of the aircraft’s strike arsenal, with orders potentially coming from both the Philippines and Malaysia, which are already users of combat versions of this aircraft.

Exports of the new missiles to Poland are also possible, as this country is set to become one of the main operators of FA-50 aircraft in the future.

It should be noted that, in addition to Poland, a large order for FA-50 aircraft is also expected from Egypt. Thanks to favorable sales terms and a wide range of options offered by Korean defense companies, the country has expressed interest in purchasing this type of aircraft.

Back in March 2025, Egyptian Ambassador to Seoul Khaled Abdel Rahman said that negotiations between the two countries were progressing positively after several months of discussions on an initial order for 36 aircraft.

The manufacturer, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), is also actively promoting the FA-50 aircraft in Romania. KAI has expressed interest in future cooperation with the Romanian aviation industry, which will be based on the FA-50 platform.

This took place during a defense cooperation conference between the Republic of Korea and Romania held in Bucharest in October 2024.