South Korea finalized its development of the long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM) system, the nation's defense ministry confirmed on Friday.
According to the announcement, a ceremony marking the milestone was held at the Agency for Defense Development in Daejeon. The L-SAM, built entirely with domestic technology, can intercept incoming targets at altitudes of 50 to 60 kilometers.
Mass production of the system is set to begin next year, with deployment expected in the mid-to-late 2020s. The L-SAM is expected to become a key part of South Korea's Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system, which includes other layers of defense such as the United States Patriot Advanced Capability-3 and M-SAM II systems.
