Gulf states eye Korea's Cheongung-II to shore up depleted air defense systems
Published: 13 Apr. 2026, 11:38
Updated: 13 Apr. 2026, 17:35
-
- MICHAEL LEE
- [email protected]
-
- CHO YONG-JUN
- [email protected]
![Two medium-range surface-to-air missile Cheongung-II systems are used during a drill in Korea in this undated stock photo. [JOONGANG PHOTO]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/13/0333f6ec-f60d-4016-8c25-984b5c49ca99.jpg)
Two medium-range surface-to-air missile Cheongung-II systems are used during a drill in Korea in this undated stock photo. [JOONGANG PHOTO]
Gulf states are widening their search for suppliers to include countries such as Korea and Ukraine to shore up their depleted air defense systems in the wake of strikes by Iran, according to a recent report.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar have burned through significant portions of their interceptor stockpiles over the past six weeks while fending off retaliatory attacks from Iran, which has left their governments racing to secure systems that can be deployed quickly.
Among the systems drawing attention is Korea’s medium-range surface-to-air missile system Cheongung-II.
The system has a 96 percent accuracy rate, as tested on designated targets by the UAE against incoming Iranian missiles, according to data released last month by People Power Party Rep. Yu Yong-weon.
The Cheongung system was developed by Korea to locally source a missile system, similar to the Patriot missile system developed by the United States.
The system was first exported to the UAE through a $3.5 billion deal with LIG Nex1 in 2021. There are currently two Cheongung-II batteries deployed in the Gulf country, with eight more scheduled for delivery. The UAE also uses the U.S.-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or Thaad, and Patriot systems to defend its skies.
The UAE has requested additional units from Korean suppliers and asked that deliveries be accelerated, according to The Wall Street Journal on Sunday.
![A C-17 transport aircraft from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force is at Daegu Air Base on March 9. The aircraft is believed to have been sent by the Gulf state to transport material, including Cheongung-II interceptors from Korea to the UAE. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/13/78a8a02b-172f-4702-ac49-92273d6717b8.jpg)
A C-17 transport aircraft from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force is at Daegu Air Base on March 9. The aircraft is believed to have been sent by the Gulf state to transport material, including Cheongung-II interceptors from Korea to the UAE. [NEWS1]
Saudi Arabia, for its part, has approached Japan in an effort to secure more Patriot interceptors while also inquiring about early deliveries of the Cheongung-II.
Riyadh signed a $3.2 billion deal with Korea to acquire 10 batteries of the Cheongung-II system in November 2023.
What distinguishes the latest procurement push by Gulf states is not only its urgency but also its breadth.
Gulf states are no longer focusing solely on high-end interceptor missiles. Instead, they are assembling layered defenses that incorporate lower-cost and more flexible tools, reflecting the changing nature of aerial threats.
Iran’s use of inexpensive, mass-produced drones — including so-called Shahed systems — has exposed the limits of traditional air defense strategies built around costly interceptors.
In response, Gulf countries are exploring combinations of Ukrainian interceptor drones, low-cost British missiles and electronic warfare systems to build more sustainable, multilayered defenses.
That shift has been accompanied by deepening Gulf ties with Kyiv.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have signed defense cooperation agreements with Ukraine and sent delegations to visit drone training facilities, signaling a more hands-on approach to military collaboration.
The diversification drive also underscores a broader strain on the global arms market. With the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East competing for supply, U.S. defense manufacturers have struggled to keep pace with demand, the Journal noted, and such delays in U.S. deliveries have pushed even longstanding allies in the Gulf to seek alternative supply chains.
Analysts say the scale and intensity of Iran’s latest strikes caught many off guard, exposing gaps in existing air defense postures.
“We are working smoothly with U.S. companies, but we also maintain strong relationships with other countries,” a Gulf official was quoted as saying, suggesting that the gradual decoupling from U.S.-centric procurement is likely to accelerate.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KO SEUNG-PYO, CHO YONG-JUN, MICHAEL LEE [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)