The South Korea’s arms procurement agency, Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has declared it is ready to start mass-producing a new Hyeongung mid-range infantry guided missile.

According to procurement agency, on 1 June that the Hyeongung anti-tank missile had passed “quality certification” trials held in late May and that LIG Nex1 will now begin “full-scale mass production” of the system. The trials were carried out by the Ministry of Science and Technology, DAPA, and its associated Defense Agency for Technology and Quality.

The Hyeongung, also named  Raybolt, is the first anti-tank guided missile developed and produced by Korean (LIG Nex1) contractors using domestic technology. The Hyeongung can identify and engage a target using its image Infrared Seeker. The missile can operate in two different mode including direct attack and top attack where missile target’s the upper part of an armored vehicle.

South Korea developed the Hyungung to replace 90mm/106mm recoilless rifles and TOW missiles in use by the nation’s troops.