South Korea Successfully Tests New Cheonryong Cruise Missile for the First Time

South Korea has successfully tested its new air-launched Cheonryong (KALCM) cruise missile, designed to destroy bunkers, for the first time.

Defence Blog reported on this.

The first technical flight tests were successfully completed on June 25, 2026, following two consecutive failures in January and March.

The test took place at the base of the South Korean Air Force’s 3rd Training and Combat Wing. The missile successfully separated from an FA-50 light combat aircraft, ignited its rocket engine in flight, and maintained a stable flight path.

The media notes that if the program proceeds as planned, development will be completed by 2028, mass production will begin in 2029, and the missile will enter service in the early 2030s.

The primary carrier for the Cheonryong missile will be the KF-21 Boramae, South Korea’s newest multi-role fighter jet. The missile will also be compatible with the FA-50, KF-16, and F-15K aircraft.

The Cheonryong will primarily be designed to strike North Korean (DPRK) bunkers, a significant portion of which are located deep within mountain ranges.

The missile has a range of over 600 km. It weighs approximately 1,300 kg and is 4.9 meters long. The missile’s body is designed to minimize its cross-section (RCS), making it difficult for enemy radars to detect.

The missile is equipped with a turbofan engine that provides a maximum speed of approximately Mach 1.

To accurately engage targets, the Cheonryong uses a combined guidance system that includes an inertial navigation system, GPS correction, and an infrared homing seeker with target identification.

The missile is set to become a standard component of South Korean aircraft’s strike arsenal and could potentially be supplied to foreign customers.

It is worth noting that South Korea ranked ninth among the world’s largest arms suppliers, accounting for about 3% of the global market. In particular, for European NATO countries, it has become the largest arms supplier after the United States.