South Korea advances AI modular missiles for swarm warfare and precision smart strikes.

According to information reported by Bizhankook on July 14, 2025, and presented at the 5th Seminar on the Development of Air-Guided Weapons and Avionics held on July 10 in Daejeon, South Korea, LIG Nex1 has officially unveiled two new modular missile models developed through private funding. This initiative reflects the South Korean manufacturer’s intent to strengthen its position in the global arms market amid growing technological and geopolitical competition, particularly with the increasing integration of artificial intelligence in weapon systems. The two missiles presented, weighing 250 pounds and 1000 pounds respectively, represent a strategic shift toward anticipating future threats rather than responding solely to the requirements defined by the national armed forces.
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The two missiles presented, weighing 250 pounds and 1000 pounds respectively, represent a strategic shift toward anticipating future threats rather than responding solely to the requirements defined by the national armed forces. (Picture source: LIG Nex1)

LIG Nex1 is aligning its industrial strategy with lessons drawn from recent conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas confrontation, where drones and AI-guided smart weapons have demonstrated tactical and strategic effectiveness. To compete with global players like MBDA and Rafael, LIG Nex1 is focusing on modularity, AI integration, and production process innovation. The 250-pound modular missile, similar to RTX’s SDB-II and MBDA’s Spear missile, features autonomous flight capabilities and a structure built with stealth-enhancing composite materials. It is designed to incorporate various interchangeable modules such as infrared sensors, decoys, warheads, electronic warfare equipment, and communication devices, and is available in both glide and powered configurations. This missile is intended for swarm operations capable of saturating and deceiving enemy defenses while coordinating precise strikes on naval or land targets.

The conceptual development phase for this missile will continue until 2025, with a prototype expected by 2028. The 1000-pound missile will be developed between 2025 and 2029 as a ground-launched version, followed by airborne launch tests from 2029 to 2032. This model, similar in size and weight to Kongsberg’s NSM missile, can be configured for anti-ship or land-attack missions by swapping modules, combining imaging infrared navigation, low-altitude terrain-following flight, and automated target recognition through AI.

These developments occur within a geopolitical context where AI is becoming a key strategic asset. As noted by Sunha Bae and So Jeong Kim in a commentary published on June 20, 2025, by AI Security Strategy, AI has emerged as a central component of the global digital power competition in the twenty-first century, extending its impact across military, cybersecurity, and governance domains. The growing use of AI in recent conflicts demonstrates its dual-use potential, capable of enhancing weapons automation while amplifying the scale of cyberattacks and disinformation. Although South Korea passed a Basic AI Act in 2025, effective from 2026, the legislation explicitly excludes military applications from its scope, limiting the country’s ability to formally integrate AI into national defense.

In contrast, the United States and the United Kingdom have revised their policies to classify AI as a national strategic asset, adjusting regulatory frameworks to secure critical infrastructures and strengthen capabilities in cyber threat detection and cognitive warfare. South Korea, however, continues to face institutional coordination challenges in aligning national security considerations with AI development. The absence of a clear legal framework for AI use in defense, combined with limited human resources allocated to AI security institutes, hinders progress in this strategic area.

The unveiling of these two modular missiles by LIG Nex1 not only signifies an industrial advancement but also represents a potential pathway for South Korea to address its lag in AI-based defense capabilities. Strengthening national capacities in this domain, including through enhanced collaborations with the United States and the United Kingdom, will be essential for South Korea to fully integrate AI into its defense systems and maintain strategic relevance in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.