Low-Cost Guided Imaging Rocket Explained

Poniard Low-Cost Guided Imaging Rocket
비궁 지대함 유도 로켓
Type:Surface-to-ship rocket
Origin:South Korea
Is Explosive:yes
Is Missile:yes
Service:2017–present
Used By:See Operators
Designer:Agency for Defense Development
LIG Nex1
Manufacturer:LIG Nex1
Production Date:2016–present
Diameter:70 mm (2.75 in)
Max Range:8km (05miles)
Guidance:Fire-and-forget-aided INS and Infrared homing
Propellant:Single-stage solid propellant
Accuracy:0.54 m CEP

The Low-Cost Guided Imaging Rocket (LOGIR;) or Poniard is a surface-to-ship guided rocket developed by Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and LIG Nex1.[1] The LOGIR was a weapons system under development for the US Navy as part of ONR's Low-Cost Imaging Terminal Seeker (LCITS) FNC.[2] It transitioned as the weapon used in the Medusa Joint Capability Technology Demonstration with South Korea.[3]

Development

The program provided a precision guided 2.75 inch (70 mm) rocket for use with existing Hydra 70 systems in service, as such it has many similarities with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System program. The principal difference between the systems is that while APKWS uses terminal laser homing, requiring the target to be 'painted' until impact, LOGIR would guide to a position supplied by the launching aircraft, using imaging infrared in the terminal phase making it a true fire-and-forget weapon.[2] [4] Another advantage of LOGIR was that it was "especially effective against swarm attacks by enemies like small boats, as there’s no need for ongoing guidance."[5]

The South Korean version, designated K-LOGIR, is used on the ROK Marine Corps Bigung (Poniard) mobile coastal defense system. Bigung is a 6×6 truck fitted with 2×18-round containers for 36 rockets to counter North Korean Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC), landing craft and landing vehicles. The rockets are equipped with the LCITS using IIR imaging technology with an additional low-cost inertial correction unit. LOGIR is designed to defeat predominantly small-scale, high-speed surface targets, but because of the limited cost requirements its use for less-contrast ground targets is less effective; it has a weight below 17.5kg (38.6lb) and a length of 1.9m (06.2feet) with range greater than 8km (05miles).[6]

South Korea's contribution in the LOGIR program are the following:[7]

Specifications

Operators

Current operators

Saudi Arabia[8]
United Arab Emirates

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: South Korea's Poniard guided rocket system passes Pentagon's Foreign Comparative Testing. Janes Information Services. 7 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20240311171713/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/south-koreas-poniard-guided-rocket-system-passes-pentagons-foreign-comparative-testing. 11 March 2024. 11 March 2024. Gabriel Dominguez.
  2. http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.NAVAIRNewsStory&id=4331 LOGIR moves a step closer to the fleet
  3. Web site: APKWS II "Hellfire Jr." Hydra Rockets Enter SDD Phase - DID.
  4. Web site: Guided Hydra Rockets and hellfire missiles: Program Halts & New Entries - Defense Industry Daily.
  5. Web site: APKWS II: Laser-Guided Hydra Rockets in Production At Last.
  6. https://armyrecognition.com/adex_2017_online_show_daily_news/adex_2017_rok_marine_corps_showcasing_bigung_for_the_1st_time.html ROK Marine Corps Showcasing Bigung for the 1st Time
  7. Web site: ROK Contribution for LOGIR.
  8. Web site: 사우디, '천무' 이어 '비궁' 실전배치…K방산 수출 확대. Newsis. 5 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230407014324/https://www.newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20230405_0002255124. 7 April 2023. 7 April 2023. Yoo Hee-suk.