In its bid to strengthen the capabilities of its future KAI KF-21 fighters, South Korea’s Air Force has officially announced the development of a new hypersonic ballistic missile, placing it among the select group of countries either working to acquire or already in possession of such weaponry. Local analysts point out that the missile appears to be based on the design lineage of the current KTSSM, being developed with the aim of striking enemy targets at long range using a system capable of overcoming current air defense networks with ease.
Expanding on the details of the new missile, South Korean open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources have indicated that it will have a range between 400 and 1,000 kilometers, with speeds ranging from Mach 5 to Mach 10. These specifications lack official confirmation for now, as the country is reportedly pursuing the program under a high degree of secrecy—so much so that some reports suggest the South Korean Air Force may already be acquiring them, which would imply the missile’s development is complete.
In line with this, there are reports from local publications indicating that the South Korean Air Force has already presented program data to key members of the National Defense Committee, including opposition member Yoo Yong-won. During the presentation, the service reportedly outlined a potential list of targets the new missile could neutralize, placing special emphasis on North Korea’s nuclear and missile facilities—a key component of any defense strategy in the event of renewed conflict.
It has also been noted that the missile’s domestic development will make it easier to integrate with the KF-21, which is also an indigenous product and, in its EX variant, will feature internal weapons bays—helping preserve its stealth characteristics and expand its arsenal. While the missile’s specific dimensions remain unknown, there is also a possibility that the South Korean Air Force may opt to integrate it onto its F-15K fleet, which has a large payload capacity.
F-16 fighters could also be a potential option, should the missile be of small to medium size—and, of course, if the United States approves its integration with its platforms, similar to what it has allowed for Israel. The latter has already demonstrated, including in real combat, that integrating medium-range ballistic missiles onto such aircraft is far from far-fetched. Specifically, this refers to the use of the ROCKS and Air LORA missiles, both developed by Israel’s domestic defense industry.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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