SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - South Korea has delivered more than 30 interceptor missiles for its Cheongung-II (M-SAM II) medium-range surface-to-air missile system to the United Arab Emirates ahead of schedule, as the Gulf state seeks to bolster its air defenses amid rising tensions with Iran.
According to government sources, the UAE had requested early delivery of additional Cheongung-II batteries. Seoul reportedly found the request difficult to meet due to existing supply commitments to other buyers such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq, as well as logistical challenges in transporting military equipment to an active conflict zone.
The UAE instead asked South Korea to accelerate shipments of interceptor missiles as its stockpiles were being depleted.
Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a prominent Emirati political scientist widely regarded as an unofficial adviser to the UAE president, wrote on X on Monday that Seoul had swiftly supplied the interceptors to help reinforce the country’s missile defense capabilities.
“Thank you, South Korea, for urgently sending 30 M-SAM2 interceptor missiles to strengthen our missile defense system against Iranian aggression,” Abdulla said.
He added that the missiles were transported in two batches using C-17 military transport aircraft.
“South Korea quickly transported the interceptors twice using C-17 aircraft. The Korean missile defense system is already operational in the UAE,” Abdulla wrote, adding that “a friend in need is a friend indeed.”
South Korea’s Cheongung-II, also known as M-SAM II, is a domestically developed medium-range air defense system designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles and aircraft. A single Cheongung-II battery can fire up to 32 interceptor missiles.
The additional interceptors supplied to the UAE are expected to be deployed immediately to replenish stocks amid ongoing missile exchanges involving Iran, according to reports.
The UAE signed a $3.5 billion deal in January 2022 to acquire the Cheongung-II system from South Korea. Of the 10 batteries contracted, two have already been deployed and are operational in the country. Those batteries reportedly achieved an interception success rate of about 96 percent during recent missile and drone attacks linked to Iran targeting U.S. and Israeli interests in the region.
The system has been used to intercept ballistic missiles and drones as the conflict involving Iran, the U.S. and Israel spreads across the Middle East, demonstrating its combat effectiveness.
Each Cheongung-II battery costs more than 400 billion won ($268 million), while a single interceptor missile is estimated to cost around 1.5 billion won, roughly one-third the price of a U.S. Patriot interceptor.
A Hanwha Aerospace official declined to comment, saying, “We cannot confirm details at this time.”
Analysts say that if the Middle East conflict continues to escalate, demand for air defense systems and munitions could surge, potentially boosting global interest in Korean weapons systems that have demonstrated operational performance.
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