Yonhap: “UAE to Acquire South Korean Cheongung II M-SAM Missiles”

Yonhap; AP; WAM; SPA; File Photo: Cheongung II M-SAM Missile19.01.2022 Asia
Yonhap: “UAE to Acquire South Korean Cheongung II M-SAM Missiles”

Yonhap: “UAE to Acquire South Korean Cheongung II M-SAM Missiles”

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On his trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the President of South Korea on Sunday reportedly reached a preliminary multibillion-dollar deal to sell Seoul’s surface-to-air missiles to UAE and pledged deeper cooperation with the Gulf Arab federation.

After South Korean President Moon Jae-in met Emirati Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai, both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the UAE’s purchase of a South Korean mid-range missile defense system valued at some $3.5 billion, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported.

The two sides committed to expand ties between their defense industries after the contract, which will involve LIG Nex1 Co., Hanwha Systems Co. and Hanwha Defense Systems Corp.

There were no further details on the deal announced during the visit nor immediate comment from the UAE, the Associated Press (AP) reported. But during Dubai’s weeklong aviation trade show last November, the Emirati Ministry of Defense tweeted it planned to acquire South Korea’s M-SAM, an advanced air defense system designed to intercept missiles at altitudes below 40 kilometers (25 miles), saying it would “constitute a qualitative addition to the capabilities of the national air defense.

The M-SAM medium range surface-to-air missile, also known as the Cheolmae-2 or Cheongung II (Iron Hawk), was developed in Russia by OKB Almaz with the assistance of Samsung Thales, LIG Nex1, and Doosan DST for the Agency for Defense Development (ADD). Localization and industrialization were carried out in South Korea enough to be considered a local system, based on technology from the 9M96 missile used on S-350E and S-400 missile systems.

Meantime, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, made a phone call with President of the Republic of South Korea Monday, national news agency WAM reported.

His Highness welcomed the visit of the Korean President to the UAE, expressing satisfaction with the distinguished level of relations between the two friendly countries and their peoples.

The two leaders discussed the ongoing economic, trade and cultural cooperation and the strategic partnership binding the two nations and affirmed their keenness to continue deepening these distinguished strategic ties.

They also reviewed regional and international developments and exchanged views on a number of issues of interest.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed valued the speech delivered by the Korean President at the inauguration of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, stressing the importance of making more efforts to promote sustainable economic development and innovation for the higher good of humanity at large.

The South Korean President arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for an official visit, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Upon his arrival in Riyadh at King Khalid International Airport, he was received by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, where an official reception was held for him.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the second leg of Moon’s three-nation trip to the Middle East, where he began his first visit to the United Arab Emirates, and will conclude it in Egypt. 

 



 
 

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