OVERVIEW:  The KM-SAM (Block 1) aka Cheolmae-2 (Iron Hawk) SAM missile is a medium-range,  road-mobile air defense unit using the  KM-SAM (Block 1) active radar guided missile.  It is intended to provide area defense against airborne threats, including MRBMs below 65,000 feet.


DETAILS:  The KM-SAM (Block 1) aka Cheolmae-2   is an indigenous SAM system based on the S-400 (SA-21 GROWLER) and is intended to fill the "middle-tier" of AD/ABM systems.

The KN-SAM battery consists of  a passive electronically scanned array  (PESA) radar (NATO I-band/IEEE X-band)  3D radar fire control system, and 4 TELs, each with eight launchers.  A typical engagement begins with detection by a long-range radar.  Illumination and guidance duties are then handed off to the PESA radar which illuminates the target.    
 
After launch, the interceptor makes its initial turn using side jet thrusters.  These give it omnidirectional coverage. The interceptor then uses an inertial navigation system to guide the missile until it is captured by PESA tracking-and-guidance system.  At this point, the command guidance system takes over, and directs the missile to the interception point.  In the terminal phase, an active seeker in the missile guides the missile to the target.  

The missile is capable of rapidly changing direction of flight and performing deceptive maneuvers while evading interception systems, as well as being ECM-resistant.  

Because the PESA radar  uses electronic beam steering and features very low sidelobes and a narrow pencil beam main lobe, the MFMTR phased array is more difficult to detect and track by an aircraft’s warning receiver when not directly painted by the radar, and vastly more difficult to jam. While it may have detectable back lobes, these are likely to be hard to detect from the forward sector of the radar. As most anti-radiation missiles rely on sidelobes to home in, the choice of engagement geometry is critical in attempting to kill a MFMTR. This radar provides a highly mobile 3D search and acquisition capability but is limited in low level coverage footprint by its antenna elevation.  

Assuming the Iron Hawk is similar to the Russian 9M96 missile system, it would have a 15 second preparation cycle before firing and the battery could fire a missile every 3-5 seconds. The PESA radar can track up to 40 targets and engage up to six targets simultaneously.


Specifications:

Maximum Acquisition Range: 	54 nm (PESA radar)
Maximum Tracking Range:	???
Engagement Envelope:	??-22 nm (range); 49-66,000 feet (altitude)
Max Target Speed: 		3334 knts/ 5 M
Reload Time:		?? minutes
Mobility:			road-mobile
Emplacement/Displacement:	30+ minutes (est).  

NOTES:  IOC: 2016.  Intended to replace the MIM-23 Hawk system.  Originally planned for 6 TELS/battery but reduced to 4 due to budget issues.  Also used by the UAE.


SOURCES: Agency for Defense Development. "Cheongung(M-SAM)." n.d. https://www.add.re.kr/eps. ; "Chelomae 2 Medium-Range Air Defense Missile System | MilitaryToday.com." MILITARY TODAY - Everything About Modern Warfare. Accessed August 3, 2023. https://www.militarytoday.com/missiles/cheolmae_2.htm. ; "KM-SAM (Cheolmai-2)." MDAA. Last modified June 5, 2018. https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/defense-systems/km-sam-cheolmai-2/. ; Pike, John. "Cheolmae II / Cheongung (Iron Hawk) M-SAM Medium Surface to Air Missile." GlobalSecurity.org. Last modified September 3, 2022. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/m-sam.htm.; https://namu.wiki/w/%EC%B2%9C%EA%B6%81%20%EB%8C%80%EA%B3%B5%EB%AF%B8%EC%82%AC%EC%9D%BC?rev=390#rfn-4; https://namu.wiki/w/%EC%B2%9C%EA%B6%81%20%EB%8C%80%EA%B3%B5%EB%AF%B8%EC%82%AC%EC%9D%BC?rev=390; https://defense-arab.com/vb/threads/185392/

