South Korea has approved the dispatch of additional Cheongung-II air-defense interceptors to the United Arab Emirates after an urgent request from the Gulf nation, which has recently faced drone and missile attacks attributed to Iran. According to South Korean media reports, more than 30 interceptors for the Korean-built air defense system currently deployed in the UAE will be transported using a C-17 military transport aircraft that arrived in South Korea on Sunday.
The UAE operates two Cheongung-II batteries as part of its layered air and missile defense network, which also includes the US-supplied MIM-104 Patriot system. Initially, Abu Dhabi had asked Seoul to accelerate delivery of the remaining eight Cheongung-II batteries under a $3.5-billion agreement signed in 2022 with South Korean companies LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Systems. However, South Korea was reportedly unable to meet the request due to existing contractual obligations. Besides the UAE, Seoul has also secured multi-billion-dollar export deals for the medium-range air defense system with Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
The emergency request follows the system’s first combat use in the UAE against recent Iranian missile and drone attacks, where it reportedly achieved an interception rate exceeding 96 percent. The strikes are linked to escalating regional tensions after US and Israeli attacks on Iran beginning February 28, which reportedly killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran responded with missile and drone strikes on US bases across the Middle East, some of which also damaged civilian facilities such as airports and hotels.
South Korean media reported that the UAE’s integrated air and missile defense network intercepted 161 ballistic missiles and 689 drones during the first three days of the attacks, representing a success rate of more than 90 percent. According to South Korean Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, other countries have also shown interest in the Cheongung-II system, though no details were disclosed. Industry sources believe the system’s strong performance in combat conditions could significantly boost its export prospects.
The Cheongung-II is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system designed to intercept both aircraft and ballistic missiles. A typical battery consists of four launchers, a radar unit, and a fire-control center. Its 400-kilogram interceptor uses a hit-to-kill mechanism and can destroy ballistic missiles at altitudes above 15 kilometers and ranges of roughly 20 kilometers. When engaging aircraft, the system offers a range of around 50 kilometers and can intercept targets at altitudes up to 20 kilometers. The system was developed by South Korean defense firms LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Systems.
