The AT-1K Raybolt medium-range anti-tank guided missile has entered its 3rd batch production. South Korea plans to mass-produce a new batch indigenous medium-range anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced in a written statement. It is the first ATGM to be built by South Korea and entered mass production in June 2017. The Raybolt is positioned by its manufacturer as a competitor and peer with the American FGM-148 Javelin and Israeli Spike-MR ATGMs. The Raybolt was first shown publicly at the Indodefence 2014 exhibition and at the IDEX 2015 exhibition. It used by the Republic of Korea Army and the Republic of Korea Army Marine Corps.
The AT-1K Raybolt (Hyeongung) is a South Korean man-portable third-generation anti-tank guided missile built by LIG Nex1. The Raybolt is produced by LIG Nex1 in cooperation with South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development, under the auspices of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). Due to its relatively cheap cost, high performance, and lighter weight than the Javelin, more Raybolt has been sold overseas than to the Republic of Korea Army and the Marine Corps. About 95% of the Raybolt is made in South Korea. The Raybolt underwent successful test evaluations in Saudi Arabia in December 2013 and January 2014. In 2018, the Raybolt was used in the Yemeni Civil War by Saudi-backed forces against the Houthis.
The Raybolt’s most notable feature is an imaging infrared seeker providing fire-and-forget capability. It also has a tandem-warhead and both direct attack and top attack modes. The Raybolt uses a smokeless propellant and can be fired from within a building. The Raybolt missile and Observation and Launch Unit (OLU) can either be vehicle-mounted or carried as a manpack by two men. The OLU has day/night capability via a thermal sight. The Raybolt system weight about 20 kg (44 lb), which its manufacturer describes as lighter than peers. The Raybolt’s range is 2.5 or 3 km. North Korea’s Korean People’s Army possesses approximately 4300 tanks with explosive reactive armour (ERA). The Raybolt’s HEAT tandem warhead can penetrate 900 mm of RHA beyond defeating ERA.
LIG Nex1 Co., Ltd. (formerly known as NEX1 Future and LG Innotek) is a South Korean aerospace manufacturer and defense company. It was established in 1976 as Goldstar Precision. LIG Nex1 was previously owned by LIG Holdings Company, which in turn was owned by the LIG Group. In 2013, a consortium led by South Korea private equity firm STIC Investments acquired 49 percent stake in LIG Nex1 for 420 billion Korean won. It develops and produces a wide range of advanced precision electronic systems, including missile, underwater weapon systems, radars, electronic warfare, avionics, tactical communication systems, fire control systems, naval combat systems, and electro-optics. It is one of the major suppliers of weapon systems for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, as well as an international exporter of weapon systems.
