In Iran war debut, South Korea’s cut-price Patriot outshines US interceptors

2026.03.21 02:20 A Cheongung-II surface-to-air missile is launched towards a simulated target during a drill in 2024. Photo: South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff South Korea built the Cheongung-II to stop North Korean missiles. Now the system is stopping Iranian ones – and in doing so, has turned Seoul into one of the most sought-after defence suppliers on the planet. The medium-range surface-to-air missile system, also known as the KM-SAM Block II, has scored a reported interception rate of 96 per cent against Iranian missiles fired at the United Arab Emirates. It was a combat debut that rivalled, and in some cases exceeded, the performance of the US Patriot anti-missile system, analysts said. The difference is price: the Korean system costs roughly one-third as much. Visitors look at the KM-SAM Cheongung missile system during the Seoul International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition in October last year. Photo: AFP That combination of battlefield credibility and competitive pricing has set off a scramble. When a UAE Air Force C-17 strategic transport touched down at Daegu Airport earlier this month, its hold was being loaded with South Korean interceptor missiles headed back to the Gulf under conditions of some urgency. The Cheongung-II had passed the only test that truly mattered and Abu Dhabi wanted more. “As security concerns over Iran’s missile and drone attacks rise across the Middle East, few suppliers other than South Korea can deliver air defence systems on short notice,” said Professor Jang Won-jun of Jeonbuk National University’s Advanced Defence Industry Studies Department. “Following its strong battlefield performance, the interceptor system has drawn significant international attention, improving the outlook for South Korea’s defence exports.” A Cheongung-II battery is built around simplicity and speed. Four launcher vehicles, each fitted with eight launch tubes, operate alongside a multifunction radar and an engagement control station. The system has a

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