South Korea is preparing to deliver a batch of Cheongung-II air defense interceptors to the United Arab Emirates following an urgent request from Abu Dhabi as it faces continued missile and drone threats linked to Iran. Reports indicate that more than 30 interceptors will be flown to the UAE aboard a C-17 transport aircraft that recently arrived in South Korea. The interceptors will support the Cheongung-II batteries already deployed in the UAE, which form part of a broader layered air defense architecture alongside the American-made Patriot system. The UAE had previously asked Seoul to speed up the delivery of eight additional Cheongung-II systems ordered through a $3.5-billion contract signed in 2022 with defense firms LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Systems. However, South Korea reportedly could not alter the delivery schedule because it has similar export agreements with other customers, including Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The emergency shipment comes after the Cheongung-II system was used in real combat conditions in the UAE during Iranian retaliatory missile and drone attacks. According to reports, the system demonstrated a success rate exceeding 96 percent in intercepting incoming threats. During the initial phase of the attacks, the UAE’s combined air defense network reportedly destroyed more than 160 ballistic missiles and nearly 700 drones, achieving an interception rate above 90 percent. The system’s strong operational performance is expected to strengthen its reputation in the international defense market. The Cheongung-II is a medium-range surface-to-air missile defense platform designed to counter both aircraft and ballistic missiles. A standard battery includes four launchers, radar systems, and a command-and-control unit. The interceptor weighs about 400 kilograms and uses a hit-to-kill technology to destroy incoming targets. It can intercept ballistic missiles at ranges of roughly 20 kilometers and altitudes above 15 kilometers, while aircraft can be engaged at distances of up to 50 kilometers.
