WASHINGTON -- On June 26, 2025, LIG Nex1 held a completion ceremony for the construction of its close-in weapon system (CIWS)-II system assembly building, near-field testing facility, and the third radar system test facility in Gumi, South Korea. The CIWS-II system assembly building and test sites, completed with an investment of KRW21 billion ($15 million), are equipped with optimal facilities and equipment for system assembly, systems integration and simulated interoperation testing, and performance verification, supporting both the development and mass production of CIWS-II.
LIG Nex1 plans to complete development of the CIWS-II by 2027, which features a 360-degree AESA radar, electro-optical tracking equipment, and a 30mm Gatling gun for enhanced range, response speed, and firepower. In particular, the system is planned to incorporate Advanced Hit Efficiency and Destruction (AHEAD) munitions to effectively respond to drone swarms and defend key facilities and bases against threats like surface-to-surface cruise missiles and rocket artillery.
A CIWS is the last line of defense on warships, designed to intercept anti-ship missiles and other close-range threats if a vessel’s air defense systems, such as surface-to-air missiles, fail to intercept them. Both the recently delivered FFX Batch-III frigate, ROKS Chungnam, and the newly launched ROKS Gyeongbuk have yet to be equipped with a CIWS. The announcement of LIG Nex1’s completion of its CIWS-II production and testing facilities is a strong indicator that Republic of Korea Navy warships will soon be equipped with CIWS-II.