South Korean military authorities plan to develop an advanced missile defense system rivaling the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery of the United States.
 
A military official said Tuesday that based on research by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, South Korea has decided to procure at home long-range surface-to-air missiles (L-SAM) with an altitude of more than 40 kilometers.
 
The official added that the basic plan for the L-SAM development will be submitted to the defense acquisition committee on June 11.
 
The official said the L-SAM will be a THAAD-level defense system and will take more than seven years to establish, including two years of exploratory development. It will be ready for deployment between 2023 and 2024.
 
South Korea is expected to forgo purchasing the THAAD as it has decided to develop the L-SAM locally.