As the war sparked by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran spreads across the Middle East, flagship Korean defense weapons such as Cheongung II and Chunmoo deployed in the region are increasingly likely to be sent into combat one after another. If this war highlights the competitiveness of Korea's defense industry—combining price advantages, fast delivery, and combat-proven capability—it is expected to add momentum to exports of follow-on weapons systems and expand market share in the Middle East.
According to industry sources on the 5th, three Middle Eastern countries have adopted Korea's surface-to-air missile Cheongung II: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. The UAE bought 10 batteries in 2022, and Saudi Arabia and Iraq signed contracts in 2024 for 10 and 8 batteries, respectively. The UAE, which received the finished goods first, is believed to have used Cheongung II recently in response to Iran's attacks. Although not officially announced, some analyses say it achieved a 90% interception rate.
Cheongung II, known as the "Korean Patriot," is a domestically developed missile air-defense system. It is a medium-range, medium-to-high-altitude surface-to-air weapon that detects aerial targets such as enemy aircraft and missiles, fires missiles, and shoots them down.
For Cheongung II, LIG Nex1 manufactures the integrated system and missiles, Hanwha Systems makes the radar, and Hanwha Aerospace produces the launchers and vehicles. Deliveries to Saudi Arabia and Iraq are expected to begin as early as this year and next year, respectively.
Industry officials expect Middle Eastern countries to demand the swift delivery of Cheongung II and other missile launchers. Jang Nam-hyun, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities Co., said, "Depending on how the war unfolds, we cannot rule out accelerated deliveries of already contracted Cheongung II systems and additional orders for spare items."
As Iran pounds neighboring countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, signs of escalation are emerging, with the UAE considering switching to an "active defense" posture.
Another Korean-made weapon likely to see use in the Middle East is Hanwha Aerospace's multiple rocket launcher Chunmoo. Chunmoo has a maximum range of 80 kilometers and can fire 12 guided 239-millimeter rockets at once. A single launcher can fire missiles of different calibers, reloads quickly, and is mounted on a truck chassis for rapid movement. Hanwha Aerospace has not disclosed specific export destinations in the Middle East, but the UAE is known to have purchased Chunmoo in 2021.
The defense industry expects this war to further highlight the competitiveness of Korea's defense sector. Korean weapons are price-competitive compared with those from major defense powers such as the United States and Europe, and delivery times are relatively fast. If combat capability is verified through the UAE's operation of Cheongung II, they will inevitably draw interest from potential importers.
Lee Han-gyeol, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities, said, "Even after the Iran situation calms down, tensions in the Middle East will be difficult to ease in the short term," adding, "As Middle Eastern countries push to strengthen defense capabilities, we expect domestic defense firms to expand their business in the region."
Korea's defense industry plans to use this opportunity to ramp up sales in the Middle East. LIG Nex1 has reportedly begun negotiations to win contracts for the long-range surface-to-air guided weapon (L-SAM), focusing on the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, which have adopted Cheongung II. The pitch is that adding L-SAM to Cheongung II integrates the system into a Korean air-defense network, boosting operational efficiency.
In addition, Hanwha Aerospace is negotiating a package deal with Saudi Arabia bundling the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the Redback infantry fighting vehicle, and there is cautious talk that results could come faster than expected. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is also discussing a plan to supply the next-generation fighter KF-21 to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Hyundai Rotem is pushing to export the K2 tank to Iraq.