KTSSM
The Ure (Hangul: 우레; English: Thunder), or often called KTSSM (Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile) is a short-range tactical surface-to-surface missile (SSM) developed through the Lightning Project that began as a countermeasure against North Korea's conventional artillery raised in the wake of the Bombardment of Yeonpyong Island. The Block 1 for fixed launcher platform, which was developed in 2019, was jointly developed with Hanwha Group under the leadership of Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and is currently developing an improved Block 2 version to operate on various transporter erector launcher (TEL) platforms. Block 1 has been deployed to the Republic of Korea Armed Forces since February 2025.
Also recorded as Ure · Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile
KTSSM

Mztourist · This file was derived from: Hanwha CTM-290 missile at IDEX 2025.jpg · CC BY 4.0
- Name
- Ure KTSSM
- Field
- surface-to-surface missile · tactical ballistic missile
- Region
- South Korea
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
The Ure (Hangul: 우레; English: Thunder), or often called KTSSM (Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile) is a short-range tactical surface-to-surface missile (SSM) developed through the Lightning Project that began as a countermeasure against North Korea's conventional artillery raised in the wake of the Bombardment of Yeonpyong Island. The Block 1 for fixed launcher platform, which was developed in 2019, was jointly developed with Hanwha Group under the leadership of Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and is currently developing an improved Block 2 version to operate on various transporter erector launcher (TEL) platforms. Block 1 has been deployed to the Republic of Korea Armed Forces since February 2025.
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Located In · outgoing
South Korea
Place

Broader Term · outgoing
surface-to-surface missile
Term
Redstone Arsenal Historical Information http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/archives/missiles/corporal_1958_wsmr_01.jpg

Broader Term · outgoing
tactical ballistic missile
Term
http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/photo/photo.html
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q12597978
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Ure KTSSM • Type — Surface-to-surface missile Tactical ballistic missile • Origin — South Korea • Is Ranged — yes • Is Explosive — yes • Is Vehicle — yes • Is Missile — yes • Service — 2025–present • Used By — Republic of Korea Armed Forces • Designer — Agency for Defense Development Hanwha Group • Design Date — Block 1: 2014–2019 Block 2: 2023–2027 (in development) • Manufacturer — Hanwha Aerospace • Unit Cost — ₩800 million • Production Date — 2020–present • Number — 200 (2020–2025) • Mass — 1.5 t • Length — 4 m • Diameter — 600 mm • Filling — Block 1: thermobaric Block 2: unitary high-explosive, or thermobaric • Filling Weight — Block 1: 500 kg • Vehicle Range — Block 1: 180 km Block 2: 290 km • Guidance — GPS, INS • Propellant — Composite propellant • Accuracy — 2 meters CEP (Block 1) 9 meters CEP (Block 2 CTM-290) • Launch Platform — Block 2: transporter erector launcher (TEL)
Design and development
Design and development
The Ure (KTSSM) was developed with the intention of quickly neutralizing North Korean long-range artillery. Dubbed the "artillery killer," Hanwha Corporation designed the missile in partnership with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD). Four missiles can be launched almost simultaneously from a fixed launch pad and they can travel 180 km; the launcher and missiles as a set have a combined cost of $1.9 million. They are GPS-guided to hit targets within two meters and have a shaped thermal warhead that can penetrate bunkers and hardened, dug-in targets several meters underground or 1.5 m of concrete. While it resembles the American MGM-140 ATACMS missile, the KTSSM is cheaper and more accurate with a shorter range, though still adequate to perform the counterbattery role. There are two versions of the missile: KTSSM-1 for attacking M-1978 Koksan 170 mm howitzers and M1985/M1991 240 mm unguided multiple rocket launchers (MRLs); and KTSSM-2, a self-propelled system tasked with engaging KN-09 300 mm MRLs and KN-02 short-range ballistic missiles, having a Block I version employing a thermal penetrating warhead and a Block II version with a unitary high-explosive warhead. Development lasted from 2014-2017 at a cost of US$418 million, and it was successfully test-launched in October 2017. In March 2018, the South Korean Army announced it would create a new artillery brigade composed of KTSSM-2 and K239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems with the aim of destroying North Korea’s hardened long-range artillery sites near the Korean Demilitarized Zone, to be inaugurated in October of that year. Fielding was planned for 2019, but initially postponed to 2023 because the United States had yet to approve the purchase of important components. In 2019, it was reported that the KTSSM would be deployed in 2021. In November 2020, Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced mass production would begin for the missile to enter service in 2022, with more than 200 units planned to be made by 2025.
Block 2
Block 2
On 27 April 2022, South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced a plan to develop a vehicle-mounted tactical surface-to-surface guided weapon (KTSSM-2). The purpose of this development project is to improve the existing KTSSM-1 to increase the range from 180 km to 290 km and integrate tactical ballistic missile systems into various types of Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) such as the K239 Chunmoo. On 21 December 2022, the Agency for Defense Development conducted a public test of the Block 2 missile under development after inviting military officials from each country at the Anheung Proving Ground. The missile was mounted on the K239 Chunmoo vehicle and hit a target 200 km away after it was launched. On 13 March 2023, the 150th Defense Project Promotion Committee deliberated and approved the basic strategy and system development plan for developing a vehicle-mounted Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile, and the revised plan included the agenda of completing the development of KTSSM-2 by 2032, two years earlier than the previous plan. On 11 May 2023, the South Korean Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ) announced that it had successfully passed the quality certification launch test of Block I produced through the mass production process. On 24 April 2024, ADD conducted a test launch of CTM290 integrated into the Homar-K system in the presence of Poland's Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Bejda and government officials from each country. The missile that was launched successfully hit the target after flying for more than 200 seconds.
Poland
Poland
In October 2022, an agreement was signed to deliver 288 K239 Chunmoo K-MLRS to the Polish Land Forces. The first stage of the program has a supply of ammunition, including KTSSM-II (CTM-290) TBMs, which is planned to ultimately be produced by Poland itself.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
In August 2025, Hanwha Aerospace signed a contract worth 400 billion won ($286.9 million) to supply Saudi Arabia with hundreds of Block 2 CTM-290 tactical ballistic missiles developed for the K239 Chunmoo system.
Operators
Operators
• Illustration — A map of operators of the Ure or its variants
Current operators
Current operators
• Republic of Korea • Republic of Korea Armed Forces – Hundreds of missiles have been produced since December 2020 and have been deployed to the ROK Armed Forces since February 2025.
Future operators
Future operators
• Estonia • Estonian Defence Forces – Contract signed in December 2025, as part of the deal to purchase K239 Chunmoo. • Poland • Polish Land Forces – Poland decided to purchase CTM-290 together as part of the contract to purchase K239 Chunmoo MLRS from South Korea. • Saudi Arabia • Saudi Arabian Army – In August 2025, Saudi Arabia signed a contract with Hanwha to purchase hundreds of CTM-290 tactical ballistic missiles. Croatia • Croatian Army – On order. Acquired CTM-290 tactical ballistic missiles as part of the K239 Chunmoo procurement package in September 2026.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- South Korea
Named but not plotted · 1
KTSSM is associated with South Korea.
Country
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.The Dong-A Ilbo. 합참 “北 장사정포 킬러 KTSSM 실전 배치”. 18 February 2025.
- 2.Defense Acquisition Program Administration. 제150회 방위사업추진위원회 결과. 14 March 2023.
- 3.Park Soo-chan. "합성사진 아냐?"… '홀인원' 기록한 국산 벙커버스터 배치된다 [박수찬의 軍]. Segye Ilbo. 28 November 2020.
- 4.Defense Acquisition Program Administration. 제131회 방위사업추진위원회 결과. 25 November 2020.
- 5.KFN News. 우리 기술로 개발한 KTSSM '우레' 드디어 작전 배치 [국방홍보원]. 22 February 2025.
- 6.Kim Gwan-yong. [김관용의 軍界一學]육군 게임체인저 'KTSSM', 北 장사정포 정밀타격. Edaily. 4 February 2018.
- 7.Korea Defense Industry Association. CHUNMOO GUIDED ROCKET & MISSILES. 2020.
- 8.The National Interest. South Korea Is Deploying Hyper-Precise Missiles to Protect Seoul from North Korea. 1 April 2018.
- 9.South Korea tests new missile capable of striking Scuds. UPI.com. 25 October 2017.
- 10.South Korea to deploy ‘artillery killer’ to destroy North Korean bunkers. Defense News. 19 March 2018.
- 11.Seoul describes new surface-to-surface missile. Korea JoongAng Daily. 13 August 2019.
- 12.S. Korea to mass produce advanced tactical ground-based missiles by 2025. Yonhap News Agency. 25 November 2020.
- 13.Shin Gyu-jin. [단독]사거리 80km '천무' 발사대로 200km 미사일 발사 성공. The Dong-a Ilbo. 22 December 2022.
- 14.Defense Acquisition Program Administration. 국방기술품질원, 전술지대지유도무기(KTSSM) 품질인증사격시험 성공. 11 May 2023.
- 15.Defense Media Agency. [단독] 폴란드 수출형 천무, 300km급 미사일 실사격 영상. 25 April 2024.
- 16.Breaking Defense. Poland buying Korean made MLRS, continuing Seoul spending spree. 5 September 2025.
- 17.The Seoul Economic Daily. [단독] 한화에어로, 사우디에 천무 전술유도탄 CTM-290 ‘수백발’ 수출. 5 September 2025.
- 18.Estonia to Purchase at Least Six South Korean–Made Chunmoo Multiple Rocket Launchers. Estonian Centre for Defence Investments. 12 December 2025.
- 19.Defence Industry Europe. Croatian defence minister says 18 K239 Chunmoo launchers will rebalance regional military power with strike range beyond 300 km. defence-industry.eu.
References
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KTSSM is connected to 2 other published records in the VALÉORINE Encyclopedia.
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