Haeseong I


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The Haeseong I (English: Sea Star I) is a subsonic, antiship cruise missile. It is the first variant developed within South Korea’s Haeseong cruise missile series, and has a range of 150 km (surface-launched) or 250 km (air-launched). It entered service in 2005.

Haeseong I at a Glance

Originated from
South Korea
Alternative names
SSM-700L, C-Star, Starfish
Possessed by
South Korea
Class
Subsonic, antiship cruise missile (ASCM)
Basing
Ground-, ship-, and air-launched
Length
5.46 m
Diameter
0.34 m
Launch weight
718 kg
Payload
220 kg
Warhead
High-explosive, semi-armor piercing (SAP)
Propulsion
Turbofan
Range
150 – 250 km
Speed
Mach 0.85
Status
Operational
In service
2005

Haeseong I Development

South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development began developing the Haeseong I in 1996 and first acknowledged the program’s existence in November 1998.1 The program aimed to counter North Korea’s large number of small- to medium-sized naval vessels with an indigenously-produced weapon. South Korea had previously developed an antiship missile named ‘Hae Ryong’ for similar purposes; the program was later terminated due to technical issues and U.S. political pressure.2

South Korea first flight tested the Haesong I in 2001. The missile’s first confirmed test of a warhead-equipped missile took place on August 21, 2003, and development concluded later that year.3

The missile entered full-rate production in 2005. It is manufactured by LIG Nex1, a South Korean defense firm.4

Haeseong I Specifications

The Haeseong I has a length of 5.46 m, a body diameter of 0.34 m, and a launch weight of 718 kg.5

The missile has a range of 150 km (surface-launched) or 250 km (air-launched) while carrying a 220 kg payload.6 The Haeseong I uses GPS-aided inertial navigation system for mid-course guidance, active-radar for terminal homing, and a phased array active radar seeker.7 Propelled by a solid-fueled booster and an SS-760K turbofan engine, the missile has a maximum speed of 290 m/s; roughly Mach 0.85.8

The missile is capable of evasive maneuvers (to counter defenses), low altitude sea-skimming flight (to avoid detection), inclined attack (to counter defenses), and repeated attack (in case of initial miss).9

Haeseong I Service History

The Haeseong I entered service in 2005.10 It is carried onboard the Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer (KDX-I), the Chungmugong Yi Sun-shin-class destroyer (KDX-II), and the Aegis-equipped Sejong the Great-class destroyer (KDX-III).11 The missile is also fitted to Incheon-class frigates (FFX-I) and Patroller Killer Guided (PKG)-class vessels.12

The air-launched version is fitted to the F-16K Fighting Falcon; the sub-launched variant equips the Chang Bogo- (Type 209 or 1200) or KSS-2-class boats; and the ground-launched version is fired from road-mobile trucks.13

South Korea has tested the Haeseong I several times in recent years. The missile was successfully tested in a 2014 drill in the East Sea.14

During a May 2016 drill, however, a Haeseong I failed to reach its intended target. This failure – along with several others that year – concerned South Korean lawmakers about their cruise missile capabilities and aging military equipment.15

On July 6, 2017, the ROK Navy launched a Haeseong I during joint ROK-N and ROK-AF live-fire drills. The test took place two days after North Korea test fired its Hwasong-14 ICBM.16

Footnotes

    1. “Haeseong (SSM-700K),” in IHS Jane’s Weapons: Naval 2016-2017, ed. David Ewing & Malcolm Fuller (United Kingdom: IHS, 2016), 86.
    2. Syed Ramsey, Chapter 3: Cruise Missiles in Tools of War: History of Weapons in Modern Times (Vij Books: India, May 2016), https://books.google.com/books?id=aUk5DAAAQBAJ&pg=PT222&lpg=PT222&dq=Hae+Ryong+missile&source=bl&ots=y46I6cIHTu&sig=AoZ5a92TaDswJEts0IQZ_kXgU5U&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjDrKqk5frVAhWo5YMKHcrqDiYQ6AEIOzAD#v=onepage&q&f=false.
    3. “Hae Seong (ASM/SSM-700K),” in IHS Jane’s Weapons: Strategic 2015-2016, ed. James C. O’Halloran (United Kingdom: IHS, 2015), 168; Lee Tae-hoon, “Seoul develops supersonic cruise missile,” The Korea Times, September 26, 2011, http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/09/113_95503.html.
    4. “ROK Navy KDX-I Destroyer & FFX-I Frigate in Harpoon and C-Star Missile Exercise,” Navy Recognition, July 12, 2017, http://navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2017/july-2017-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/5384-rok-navy-kdx-i-destroyer-ffx-i-frigate-in-harpoon-and-c-star-missile-exercise.html.
    5. Kim Minseok and Bradley Perrett, “South Korea’s LIG Nex1 Land-Attack Missile Cleared For Service,” Aviation Week, May 8, 2017, http://aviationweek.com/defense/south-korea-s-lig-nex1-land-attack-missile-cleared-service?platform=hootsuite; Jane’s Weapons: Naval, 86-88.
    6. Jane’s Weapons: Strategic, 87.
    7. Ibid.
    8. Navy Recognition, “ROK Navy KDX-I Destroyer & FFX-I Frigate in Harpoon and C-Star Missile Exercise.”
    9. Agency for Defense Development, “Aircraft Missile Weapon System: Ship-to-Ship Guided Weapon (Starfish),” 2012, http://www.add.re.kr/.
    10. Naval Recognition, “ROK Navy KDX-I Destroyer & FFX-I Frigate in Harpoon and C-Star Missile Exercise.”
    11. Jane’s Weapons: Naval, 86.
    12. Navy Recognition, “ROK Navy KDX-I Destroyer & FFX-I Frigate in Harpoon and C-Star Missile Exercise;” and Jung Sung-ki, “Navy launches 2 more guided missile boats,” The Korea Times, July 30, 2010, http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/07/113_70537.html.
    13. Jane’s Weapons: Strategic, 168.
    14. “Navy conducts drill despite Japan’s protest,” The Korea Herald, June 20, 2014, http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140620000694&ACE_SEARCH=1.
    15. “Lawmakers question capability of military equipment,” The Korea Herald, September 25, 2016, http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160925000241&ACE_SEARCH=1.
    16. “Korea’s military holds precision-strike drills,” The Korea Herald, July 6, 2017, http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170706000618&ACE_SEARCH=1.
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Missile Defense Project, "Haeseong I," Missile Threat, Center for Strategic and International Studies, October 10, 2017, last modified April 23, 2024, https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/haeseong-i/.