South Korean defense contractor LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) has signed a $94-million contract to export its Haegung ship-launched surface-to-air missile to Malaysia, marking the system’s first overseas sale.
The deal was finalized in late April during a defense and security convention in Kuala Lumpur, according to local Korean media.
The weapons will be installed on the Royal Malaysian Navy’s future Ada-class corvettes being built by Turkish defense firm STM as part of a program launched in 2024.
The Haegung SAAM System
Conceptualized in 2011 under Seoul’s Agency for Defense Development, the Haegung is a guided naval warhead designed to intercept threats such as anti-ship missiles and aircraft targeting naval vessels.
The 3-meter (10-foot) system features an advanced seeker that integrates radio frequency radar and imaging infrared sensors to improve accuracy, even across denied environments.
It travels at a speed of Mach 2 (2,470 kilometers/1,535 miles per hour) and has an operational range of 20 kilometers (12.4 miles).
“The biggest advantage of Haegung is its high accuracy utilizing a dual seeker,” Yonhap News quoted LIG D&A Senior Manager Hong Jun-ki as saying. “It is an effective weapon system because it can immediately maximize the survivability of the vessel.”
The contract comes as South Korean defense firms expand their presence in Southeast Asia through the recent Malaysian event, Defense Services Asia 2026, which is among the largest defense exhibitions in the region.
A joint Korean pavilion, backed by government agencies and industry groups, showcased systems ranging from guided weapons to surveillance and support equipment, while hosting one-on-one meetings with international buyers.
