KP-SAM Chiron 신궁 휴대용 지대공 미사일 | |
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Type | Manportable surface-to-air missile ( MANPADS) |
Place of origin | South Korea |
Service history | |
In service | 2005–present |
Used by | See Operators |
Production history | |
Designer |
Agency for Defense Development LIG Nex1 |
Designed | 1995–2004 [1] |
Manufacturer | LIG Nex1 |
Unit cost | €2.6 million (2023) [2] |
Produced | 2004–present |
Specifications | |
Mass | Total: 19.5 kg (43 lb)
[3] Missile: 15 kg (33 lb) [1] |
Length | 1.68 m (5.5 ft) |
Diameter | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Crew | 2 (If based from a tripod), 1 (If held) |
Maximum firing range | 7 km (4.3 mi) [1] |
Warhead | 720 Tungsten balls [3] |
Warhead weight | 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) [3] |
Engine | Solid fuel rocket |
Flight ceiling | 4 km (13,000 ft) [1] |
Maximum speed | Mach 2.5 (851 m/s; 3,060 km/h) [3] |
Guidance system | Infrared homing [3] |
The KP-SAM Chiron [note 1] (Korean Portable-Surface to Air Missile; Korean: 신궁; Hanja: 神弓; RR: Shin-gung) is a South Korean shoulder-launched surface-to-air missile manufactured by LIG Nex1. [4]
The KP-SAM Chiron was created to protect ROK troops in the forward area, which started in 1995 under the direction of LIG Nex1. [5] In late 2003, the delivery of the Igla SAMs from Russia in payment for Russian debts to Korea appear to have solved the problem momentarily. [3] [6] The KP-SAM began production in 2004 with extended trials in early 2005. [1] [5]
In late 2005, the KP-SAM entered service with the South Korean Army, after being in development for nearly 8 years. [1] [6] The South Korean Army has ordered some 2000 units to be delivered in the near future. [6]
In 2011, the KP-SAM was proposed to the Indian military for potential export. [4] It was being marketed in 2012 for India's modernization of their VSHORAD system, competing with the RBS 70, the Starstreak, the Mistral-2 and the SA-24. [7]
In November 2012, Peru announced that they will purchase the Chiron alongside 108 missiles and three TPS-830KE radar under a $USD 43 million defense contract. [8] However, the deal was called off in May 2013 over problems on paying for the contract. [8]
In 2014, Indonesia bought the KP-SAM for integration with the Skyshield 35 mm anti-aircraft system. [9] It was previously shown at the Indo Defence 2014 exhibition. [10]
In 2021 it is reported that failure rate of the KP-SAM was at 24% due to aging inventory that has been improperly stored along lacking proficiency with the system by its operators. [11]
While the missile system externally resembles a French Mistral system, the entire missile system including the seeker, control section, warhead and motor were developed and manufactured in South Korea. [5] [6] The missile features integrated IFF systems, night and adverse weather capabilities, a two-colour (IR/UV) infrared seeker to aid in negating infrared countermeasures (IRCM) and a proximity-fuse warhead. During development tests the missile scored a 90% hit ratio.
According to Agency for Defense Development officials, the missile is superior to the American FIM-92 Stinger or the French Mistral in hit probability, price and portability. [12] It had been involved in a missile test where the Shingung's missile made impact on a low-flying target as high as 3.5 kilometers with a speed of 697.5 m/s (more than Mach 2.36) [13] and a distance range of 7 km. [4]
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