Specifications and Features of the Bigung Missile, Related Companies, Cost, and Bigung's Role in RIMPAC

Specifications and Features of the Bigung Missile, Related Companies, Cost, and Bigung's Role in RIMPAC

In the waters off Hawaii, from June 26 to August 2, approximately 25,000 personnel from 29 countries, including the United States and key allies, are participating in the large-scale combined military exercise known as the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC). Held biennially, RIMPAC showcases advanced military forces and conducts live-fire drills using a variety of weapon systems across the vast Pacific Ocean. Among the array of advanced weaponry on display this year, one weapon has particularly caught the attention of the U.S. Navy: South Korea's Bigung guided rocket.

During RIMPAC, a major showcase of new weaponry and a stage for military diplomacy, the busiest person is Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations. She, along with other senior U.S. Navy officials, visited the South Korean Navy’s amphibious assault ship, the Cheonjaebong, twice to inspect the new Bigung guided rocket system it carried. The Bigung garnered significant interest during the Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) program conducted by the U.S. Department of Defense on July 12. During the FCT, Bigung missiles were fired from a Textron-manufactured Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV), achieving perfect accuracy in all test shots. The high-ranking U.S. Navy officials present were highly impressed with the successful outcomes.

The interest from the U.S., which has an extensive array of domestically developed and produced weapon systems, in the South Korean-made Bigung raises questions. Despite having similar systems, the U.S.'s attention to Bigung is notable. To understand this, we need to trace back to the year 2000, specifically the USS Cole bombing incident in Yemen's Aden harbor, where a small boat packed with explosives attacked the U.S. Navy’s guided missile destroyer, highlighting vulnerabilities in defending against small boat threats. Following this incident, the U.S. Navy increased its focus on enhancing close-range combat capabilities against such threats, although existing weapons systems like the Harpoon missile and deck guns proved ineffective against nimble small boats.

The U.S. military explored the potential of 70mm Hydra rockets as a cost-effective alternative, leading to the development of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) by the U.S. Army and the Laser-Guided Imaging Rocket (LOGIR) program by the U.S. Navy. Initially, there was a joint development with South Korea, which was seeking to counter the North Korean threat from hovercrafts. While the U.S. Navy eventually discontinued its program due to budget constraints, South Korea continued under the name LOGIR, resulting in the successful development of the Bigung guided rocket in 2015.

The Bigung system is designed primarily for coastal defense against small high-speed boats and is deployed on South Korean Marine Corps vehicles. Each vehicle can carry two launchers, each with 20 rockets, capable of engaging targets up to 10 kilometers away. Utilizing GPS and inertial navigation systems for initial guidance and an Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker for final targeting, Bigung rockets are highly accurate and effective against multiple simultaneous targets. This "Fire & Forget" capability allows for the engagement of several targets at once, a significant advantage over other systems like the APKWS, which requires continuous laser guidance.

The recent FCT highlighted the integration of Bigung with the CUSV, a modular unmanned platform capable of various missions, including patrol, reconnaissance, and strike operations. The U.S. Navy's interest in Bigung is partly due to its potential as a key weapon for the future "Ghost Fleet"—a proposed fleet of unmanned surface vessels intended to counter China's growing naval presence. The Bigung's small size and light weight make it an ideal fit for such platforms, offering potent firepower against small, fast-moving targets.

Bigung's specifications include a launcher footprint under 2 meters and a weight of approximately 400 kg (with 19 rockets). This compact system can be mounted on various platforms, including trucks, ships, and potentially helicopters. The missile itself is 1.9 meters long, weighs 15 kg, and features a "Fire and Forget" guidance system. This allows it to engage up to five targets simultaneously, using advanced targeting technology to ensure precision.

Despite these successes, the development of Bigung faced challenges, such as issues with target discrimination in multi-target scenarios and environmental factors affecting sensor performance. However, improvements in seeker technology and software enhancements have addressed these issues, ensuring reliable performance.

Currently, the Bigung system is in operational testing with the South Korean Marine Corps, which has praised its user-friendly interface and effective performance. The cost per unit is estimated at around 40 million KRW (approximately 33,000 USD), making it a cost-effective solution for coastal defense.

Keywords: Bigung missile, guided rocket, RIMPAC, CUSV, South Korea, U.S. Navy, coastal defense, Fire & Forget, imaging infrared seeker, unmanned surface vehicle