Cost-Effective Firepower: LIG Nex1's 40mm Mini-Missile Offers Versatility for Infantry and Drones at Kadex 2024.

At the KADEX 2024 event, LIG Nex1 presents its 40mm mini-missile. This missile is designed to reduce costs by using warheads originally developed for 40mm grenades while minimizing design risks. The 40mm missile is compatible with standard under-barrel grenade launchers, allowing easy integration with existing military equipment. Due to its adaptable design, it can be fired from under-barrel launchers or launched from a light tube with minimal recoil, providing flexibility for infantry units without requiring additional specialized launch equipment.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Due to its compact size and light weight, this missile is also suited for potential drone (UAV) applications, which could expand its use on the battlefield (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The missile is currently being developed with an uncooled infrared seeker operating in the 8-12 µm range. A version equipped with a semi-active laser (SAL) seeker is also in development upon client request. Weighing about 2 kg, the missile has a maximum range of 2 km. Its anti-armor warhead can neutralize lightly armored vehicles, while fragmentation warheads can target enemy positions such as machine gun or anti-tank missile nests.

Due to its compact size and light weight, this missile is also suited for potential drone (UAV) applications, which could expand its use on the battlefield. This flexibility allows LIG Nex1 to develop missile systems that meet the evolving needs of modern armed forces, incorporating AI and UAV platforms for more autonomous and precise operations.

The 40mm missile, first unveiled at IDEX 2019, weighs approximately 2 kg, has a range of 2 km, and utilizes infrared guidance. Initially presented as a development at the request of the South Korean military, it was later clarified that it was not intended to replace the K11 system. This missile, designed for the M320 launcher, was developed by LIG Nex1 in response to a specific request from the Saudi military, who had been using expensive missile systems to address minor threats such as motorcycles. LIG Nex1 offered a more cost-effective solution, priced at around 40 million won per unit, with the goal of reducing this cost to 20 million won through mass production.

The Saudi forces expressed interest in a semi-active radar-guided option, and the technology has been compressed to fit the 40mm grenade size. While still more expensive compared to unguided systems like the K11, priced at about 16 million won, the 40mm missile offers a more cost-effective solution for light targets.

A comparison can be made between this South Korean mini-missile and Raytheon’s Pike munition, designed to provide increased precision and extended range for infantry forces. Both systems share similar characteristics in terms of caliber and range (around 2 km) and utilize advanced guidance systems. However, the LIG Nex1 missile features uncooled infrared guidance and offers a semi-active laser (SAL) option, making it versatile for both day and night missions.

While the Pike is specifically designed for infantry use with under-barrel grenade launchers, the South Korean missile is envisioned for multiple applications, including potential integration with UAVs, giving it broader operational flexibility.