TAipers

TAipers
TAipers missile on display at ADEX 2023
TypeAnti-tank guided missile
Place of originSouth Korea
Service history
In service2024–present
Used byRepublic of Korea Army
Republic of Korea Marine Corps
Production history
DesignerAgency for Defense Development
Designed2015–2022
ManufacturerHanwha Aerospace
Produced2024–present
Specifications
MassMissile:
35 kilograms (77 lb)
Launch pad:
9 kilograms (20 lb)
LengthMissile:
1,735 millimeters (5 ft 8.3 in)
Launch pad:
1,855 millimeters (6 ft 1.0 in)
Diameter150 millimeters (5.9 in)
Effective firing range8 km (5.0 mi)
Maximum firing range10 km (6.2 mi)
WarheadTandem-charge HEAT
Blast yield1,000 mm (39 in) RHA
PropellantSmokeless solid-propellant
Maximum speed200 m/s (720 km/h; 450 mph; Mach 0.59)
Guidance
system
Fire-and-forget dual-mode seeker with fiber-optic datalink MITL
Launch
platform
LAH-1 Miron
MAH Marineon

The TAipers (lit. 'Tank Snipers'), or Cheongeom (Korean: 천검, lit. 'Heavenly Sword'), is an air-launched anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and manufactured by Hanwha Aerospace.

Development

The TAipers was developed to replace air-launched TOW missiles in the inventory of the ROK Armed Forces but could be exported. It was presented to potential customers at the Black Sea Defense & Aerospace 2024.

The cost of development is KRW724.8 billion (USD550.5 million).

The TAipers was introduced as the primary armament of the Republic of Korea Army LAH-1 Miron armed helicopter, which began service in December 2024.

Design

The missile has two modes. The fire-and-forget mode autonomously guides the missile using a dual-mode seeker that combines visible and infrared homing imagery.

The Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm of the missile system was trained with deep learning on more than 800,000 frames of potential targets. The fire-and-update mode allows the operator to guide the missile from the launch vehicle though fiber-optic datalink.

Launch platforms

Specifications

Variants

TAipers-L

Light variant of the TAipers. Intended primarily for ground platforms. Maximum range has been reduced to 5,500 m (3.4 mi).

Operators

A map of operators of the TAipers

Current operators

South Korea

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "DAPA Magazine Vol.140" (PDF). Defense Acquisition Program Administration. March 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "[밀리터리픽] AI 최초 적용 공대지 미사일..하늘의 검 '천검'". YTN. 28 October 2024. Archived from the original on 12 October 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Products & services". Hanwha Aerospace. Retrieved 12 October 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Akhil Kadidal (10 January 2024). "South Korea to mass-produce TAipers anti-tank missiles". Janes Information Services. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILE TAipers". Korea Defense Industry Association. 2020. Archived from the original on 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  6. ↑ "South Korea to mass-produce TAipers anti-tank missiles". Janes. 10 January 2024. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "Cheongeom [Taipers (Tank + Snipers)]". Agency for Defense Development. Retrieved 12 October 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ↑ Han Yeon-hee (19 December 2022). "헬기탑재 국산 공대지미사일 '천검' 개발...AI로 표적 자동포착". YTN. Archived from the original on 12 October 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "ADEX 2023 – Hanwha looks in the future of IFVs with its K-NIFV". European Defence Review. 19 October 2023. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "ADEX 2025: Premiere of Hanwha Aerospace's K-NIFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle". MILMAG.