Cheongung-II a “Qualitative Addition” to UAE Air Defence
South Korea has signed a contract worth KRW4.18 trillion ($3.5 billion) for supply of an undisclosed number of Cheongung Block-2 medium-range, surface-to air missile (SAM) systems to the UAE, marking the first export sale of the advanced air defence system.
The contract, which is also South Korea’s single largest defence industry export deal, was announced following a meeting held on 16 January in Dubai between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and UAE Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, according to a statement by the presidential office in Seoul. The statement indicates that KRW2.6 trillion of the contract value is being awarded to LIG Nex1, KRW1.2 trillion to Hanwha Systems, and KRW400 billion to Hanwha Defense.
The two countries also signed an MoU to expand bilateral military and defence technology co-operation in the mid- to long-term. The latest developments come after the UAE MoD tweeted on 16 November that it was planning to acquire the South Korean-made SAM system, as it would represent a “qualitative addition” to its existing air defence capabilities.
In June 2017 South Korea announced the beginning of mass production of the Cheongung Block-2 – an improved variant of the Block-1 – to better counter North Korea’s growing missile threats. Also known as the Cheongung II M-SAM, the system, developed the country’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in co-operation with South Korean companies such as LIG Nex1, is operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) alongside the US Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile system as part of South Korea’s multi-layered air defences.
The Block-2 is a hit-to-kill missile interceptor, designed primarily to engage aircraft and incoming ballistic missile targets out to a range of 40km, with an altitude ceiling of about 20 kilometres. A Cheongung SAM battery typically consists of a C2 centre, a multifunction radar, and four transporter-erector-launchers – each of which is mounted on a separate 8×8 truck.
Gabriel Dominguez reporting for MON
