South Korea has agreed to urgently supply Cheongung-II air defense interceptors to the United Arab Emirates after the Gulf nation requested additional support amid ongoing drone and missile threats from Iran. According to South Korean media reports, more than 30 interceptors will be transported using a C-17 aircraft that recently arrived in the country. The interceptors are intended to replenish stocks used by the Cheongung-II systems already deployed in the UAE as part of its integrated air defense network. This network also includes the US-built Patriot missile defense system, forming a layered shield against aerial threats. Earlier, the UAE requested accelerated delivery of the remaining eight Cheongung-II batteries it ordered under a $3.5-billion agreement signed in 2022 with South Korean defense companies LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Systems. However, South Korea was reportedly unable to advance the delivery schedule because of prior export commitments with other countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The latest interceptor shipment follows the system’s first real combat use in the UAE during recent Iranian missile and drone strikes, where it reportedly achieved an interception rate exceeding 96 percent. During the first three days of the attacks, the UAE’s air defense network reportedly destroyed more than 161 ballistic missiles and nearly 689 drones, maintaining an interception rate above 90 percent. The strong performance of the Cheongung-II under operational conditions has attracted attention from several other countries interested in acquiring the system. The medium-range surface-to-air defense system includes launchers, a radar unit, and a fire-control center. Each interceptor weighs about 400 kilograms and uses a hit-to-kill mechanism to neutralize threats. It can intercept ballistic missiles at altitudes exceeding 15 kilometers and at ranges of around 20 kilometers, while aircraft can be engaged at distances of up to 50 kilometers.
