Saudi Arabia discusses local production of Poniard guided rockets with South Korea.

Saudi Arabia is in discussions with LIG Nex1 to localize production of the K-LOGIR (Poniard) 2.75-inch guided rocket, with an emphasis on manufacturing and technical cooperation.

On January 7, 2026, Tactical Report revealed that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense opened discussions with the South Korean company LIG Nex1 to localize the production of the 2.75-inch Korean Low-Cost Guided Imaging Rocket (K-LOGIR), marketed internationally as Poniard, marking a new step in Saudi-Korean defense industrial cooperation. The talks focus on potential local production, assembly, and technical cooperation rather than an immediate procurement decision, to increase the domestic share of defense manufacturing while sustaining access to precision-guided munitions suited to maritime and coastal security missions.
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The Poniard, also designated K-LOGIR, is a 70-millimeter guided surface-to-ship rocket developed by South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development with LIG Nex1 as the primary industrial partner, and it has been in operational service since 2017. (Picture source: LIG Nex1)

Saudi interest in localization follows the integration of the Poniard system on Royal Saudi Navy vessels, such as FPB 2200 fast patrol boats operating in coastal and littoral roles. These vessels are tasked with countering small surface threats, including fast inshore attack craft, in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf waters. Saudi deployment has been discussed alongside land-based launcher concepts, suggesting flexibility in how the system could be employed across naval and coastal defense units. While the number of rockets in Saudi service has not been publicly specified, the system’s presence since 2023 indicates an established operational baseline that supports the rationale for local industrial involvement. Similar integration pathways have been pursued by the United Arab Emirates, reinforcing the relevance of the system in Gulf maritime security planning.

The Poniard, also designated K-LOGIR, is a 70-millimeter guided surface-to-ship rocket developed by South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development with LIG Nex1 as the primary industrial partner, and it has been in operational service since 2017. The round has a mass of 14 kilograms, a length of 1.9 meters, and a diameter of 70 millimeters, with a maximum firing range of 8 kilometers. It carries a 4-kilogram high-explosive warhead and uses a single-stage solid propellant motor compatible with existing Hydra 70 launch systems. Detection range is cited at 12 kilometers, with tracking capability up to 9 kilometers, supporting engagements against small, fast-moving surface targets. Accuracy is stated at 0.54 meters circular error probable (CEP), reflecting its role as a precision munition rather than an area-effect rocket to balance cost control with precision engagement in congested maritime environments.

The guidance of the K-LOGIR is based on inertial navigation during the midcourse phase, combined with imaging infrared guidance in the terminal phase, enabling a fire-and-forget engagement profile. This allows the rocket to lock onto targets without continuous external guidance, supporting simultaneous engagements of multiple threats. The imaging infrared seeker is designed to function in day and night conditions and to remain effective in maritime environments where fog, sea mist, or clutter can limit laser-guided systems. The design intent emphasizes countering swarm tactics involving small boats rather than engaging large surface combatants. By relying on existing 70-millimeter rocket launchers, the Poniard system is intended to minimize integration complexity across naval, land-based, and potentially aerial platforms, reinforcing its appeal to countries seeking scalable defensive options against asymmetric maritime threats.

The development of the K-LOGIR can be traced back to a cooperative concept linked to U.S. Navy interest in a low-cost guided rocket for maritime security, before South Korea continued the program independently after 2012. The system was then shaped by operational concerns over small-boat attacks and amphibious landing threats, particularly in the Korean Peninsula, where rapid engagement of multiple targets was prioritized. South Korean forces adopted the rocket in mobile coastal defense configurations, including truck-mounted launchers used by the Republic of Korea Marine Corps. Subsequent development expanded the use of these rockets to shipboard applications, enabling the Poniard's integration on a variety of naval assets. This represented a shift from a purely land-based coastal defense weapon toward a flexible munition applicable across different maritime security roles.

Beyond Saudi Arabia, the Poniard has been used by the United Arab Emirates Navy, with installation on Gowind-class corvettes and planned integration on Falaj 3-class offshore patrol vessels. These deployments mirror Saudi use cases, emphasizing close-range maritime defense against small surface threats rather than long-range strike missions. Testing milestones have included a series of U.S. Department of Defense Foreign Comparative Testing events conducted between 2019 and 2024, culminating in live-fire activities during RIMPAC 2024. During those trials, the rocket was launched from an unmanned surface vehicle equipped with a Poniard launcher, achieving successful hits against designated targets. The test sequence involved unmanned detection, tracking, and engagement concepts, and launches were conducted from platforms deployed by the Republic of Korea Navy, including an LST-II Cheon Wang Bong-class tank landing ship.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.