South Korea announced on Friday that it has completed development of the Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM), a key component of its multi-layered missile defense system. The country’s defense ministry stated that the system, designed to intercept ballistic missiles at altitudes of up to 37 miles (60 kilometers), will enter mass production in 2025, with deployment planned for the late 2020s.

The L-SAM aims to enhance South Korea’s defenses against high-altitude threats from North Korea. Officials claim the system was developed entirely with domestic technology, featuring advanced hit-to-kill precision-guidance capabilities, which it says place South Korea among the few nations capable of such high-altitude interception.