South Korea has agreed to provide additional Cheongung-II air defense interceptors to the United Arab Emirates after the country requested urgent support due to ongoing drone and missile threats from Iran. More than 30 interceptors will be delivered using a C-17 military transport aircraft. The Cheongung-II system is already deployed in the UAE as part of its integrated air defense network alongside the American-made Patriot missile system. The UAE had earlier signed a $3.5-billion deal with South Korean companies LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Systems in 2022 to purchase several Cheongung-II systems and had requested faster delivery of the remaining units. However, South Korea could not accelerate the schedule because of previous commitments to other countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The request followed the system’s first combat use in the UAE during recent Iranian attacks, where the interceptor reportedly achieved more than a 96 percent success rate. Reports also indicated that the UAE’s air defense system intercepted hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles during the first days of the attacks. The Cheongung-II is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system designed to counter aircraft and ballistic missile threats. Each battery includes four launchers, radar systems, and a fire control center. The interceptor weighs about 400 kilograms and uses a hit-to-kill mechanism to destroy incoming targets. It can intercept ballistic missiles at altitudes above 15 kilometers and ranges around 20 kilometers, while aircraft can be engaged up to 50 kilometers away.
