South Korea completes CIWS-II facility to move away from US-made systems for short-range protection.

On June 26, 2025, the South Korean company LIG Nex1 announced that it had completed its new production and testing infrastructure for the CIWS-II close-in weapon system at its Gumi complex in North Gyeongsang Province. The opening ceremony was attended by company CEO Shin Ik-hyun, senior representatives from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ), all three military branches, local authorities, and cooperating companies.
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The CIWS-II is intended to provide short-range point defense on naval platforms against low-flying anti-ship missiles and other close-in threats that bypass outer layers of protection. (Picture source: LIG Nex1)

The infrastructure comprises a CIWS-II final assembly hall, a close-range electromagnetic testing hall, and a radar test building. Construction required an investment of 210 billion KRW (approximately $152.6 million). These facilities are designed to support full integration and operational verification, and to enable serial production of the CIWS-II system, including potential land-based variants under development.

The CIWS-II program was initiated to replace the Dutch SGE-30 Goalkeeper, previously in use with the South Korean Navy, which faced obsolescence due to the end of its production. It also aimed to reduce reliance on the US-made Phalanx close-in weapon system (CIWS), which presented high operating costs. After a competitive selection process, LIG Nex1 was selected in 2021 over Hanwha Systems. The selection was based in part on LIG Nex1's prior experience in maintaining Goalkeeper systems and its early adoption of AESA radar technologies for naval programs. The detailed design phase of the CIWS-II began in 2022. In April 2024, a revised system development plan was approved. Electromagnetic compatibility tests on the prototype were completed in May 2025, and environmental testing is currently underway. Shipboard operational testing is scheduled for 2026, with the full development process expected to be completed by 2027.

The CIWS-II is intended to provide short-range point defense on naval platforms against low-flying anti-ship missiles and other close-in threats that bypass outer layers of protection. The weapon system is centered around a 30mm GAU-8 rotary cannon, integrated with a sensor suite consisting of four AESA search radars, one AESA tracking radar, and an electro-optical tracking system that includes a TV camera, infrared sensor, laser rangefinder, and a short-wave infrared (SWIR) camera. The SWIR sensor is optimized for detection in fog or degraded visibility. The system architecture allows rapid engagement, with the ability to switch targets within one second. It is capable of a firing rate up to 4,200 rounds per minute and supports both automatic and manual operation modes, enabling engagement of various close-range aerial and surface threats, including fast boats, low-flying missiles, and drones.

In parallel, LIG Nex1 is developing a land-based version of the CIWS-II, in part as a response to North Korea's drone incursion into South Korean airspace in 2022. The ground-based system is intended to defend against long-range artillery, short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles flying at low altitudes. To reduce production and operating costs, the fixed four-face AESA radar module used in the naval version will be replaced with a rotating radar face. The land-based version will also utilize AHEAD ammunition, which ejects submunitions mid-flight to form a dense cloud designed to intercept drone swarms or incoming artillery shells. These programmable munitions are already used in similar systems such as Rheinmetall’s Skyshield.

CIWS-II is designed to address performance limitations observed in previous gun-based systems. The GAU-8 cannon provides higher muzzle energy and firing density compared to the M61A1 used in the Phalanx system. This is relevant in intercepting agile and high-speed threats, such as supersonic sea-skimming missiles or maneuvering drones. The use of tungsten armor-piercing incendiary rounds, originally developed for the A-10 aircraft, enhances kinetic effectiveness. The system’s architecture is fully based on Korean technologies, including radar, tracking systems, and software. This domestic development avoids foreign dependency and restrictions associated with licensing or the use of imported components. Initial naval deployment is planned for the Chungnam-class frigates, with further integration foreseen aboard KDDX destroyers and FFX Batch III frigates.

Several countries, including the United Arab Emirates and others in Southeast Asia, have expressed interest in the CIWS-II. Since the system is developed and produced entirely in South Korea, it is not subject to foreign export controls, allowing greater flexibility in international defense cooperation. The land-based version is being considered for use in protecting high-value assets and critical infrastructure in South Korea. The Gumi site, now equipped with facilities for system integration and environmental testing, will be used to meet both domestic operational requirements and future export production demands.

CIWS-II is being developed as part of South Korea's broader effort to strengthen its layered air and missile defense capabilities. It is intended to improve inner-layer protection for naval and land-based installations. Once certified, it is expected to contribute to national and regional defense networks, addressing the growing threat from missile technologies, unmanned systems, and saturation attacks. The Gumi production complex, with its radar testing infrastructure and simulation systems, positions LIG Nex1 to support ongoing production and future upgrades, and to respond to both South Korean defense needs and emerging international demand.