First Combat Use for South Korea’s Cheongung II Air Defense System Against Iranian Missile in UAE.

A South Korean-built Cheongung II medium-range surface-to-air missile system reportedly intercepted an incoming ballistic threat in the United Arab Emirates during Iranian retaliatory missile strikes across the Middle East. The engagement represents the first known real-world combat interception by the exported air defense system, marking a milestone for South Korea’s growing defense industry.

A South Korean-made Cheongung II medium-range surface-to-air missile system reportedly carried out its first recorded combat interception in the United Arab Emirates as Iranian missile strikes swept across the region following U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran. Emirati air defenses activated during the retaliatory launch wave, and the M-SAM II system engaged one of the incoming ballistic threats. The intercept marks the first time a South Korean-developed air defense platform has successfully engaged a real combat target, providing an early operational test of a system that has been exported to multiple Middle Eastern partners as part of Seoul’s expanding defense industry presence.
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The Cheongung-II, also known as KM-SAM Block II, is designed for medium-range interception of aircraft and ballistic missiles (Picture source: Korean MoD)

The engagement unfolds amid a broader regional exchange of missile and drone attacks. Iranian forces launch strikes toward several locations across the Gulf in response to the earlier operations. Emirati air defenses react immediately. According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, 174 ballistic missiles directed toward the country were detected during the attack sequence, with 161 destroyed before reaching their targets. Authorities also report the detection of 689 drones, of which 645 are intercepted. These defensive operations rely on multiple layers of protection, including U.S.-supplied Patriot air defense systems as well as recently deployed Cheongung-II batteries.

The Korea Times notes that the Cheongung-II battery integrated into the UAE’s missile defense architecture participates directly in the interception of at least one incoming ballistic threat. The system had previously been exported as part of South Korea’s expanding defense partnerships with Gulf states. The UAE becomes the first international operator after signing a $3.5 billion contract in 2022 for ten batteries produced by South Korean defense companies LIG Nex1, Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Aerospace. At least two batteries are already deployed in Emirati territory.

The Cheongung-II, also known as KM-SAM Block II, is designed for medium-range interception of aircraft and ballistic missiles. Each battery integrates four to six mobile launchers, each armed with eight interceptor missiles, a multifunction radar, and a command-and-control vehicle responsible for fire coordination. This architecture allows the system to detect, track, and engage multiple aerial threats simultaneously while remaining mobile enough to protect different strategic sites.

The interceptor weighs roughly 400 kilograms and uses a hit-to-kill interception method that destroys incoming targets through direct kinetic impact rather than explosive fragmentation. The missile reaches speeds approaching Mach 5 and can intercept ballistic threats at altitudes of up to about 20 kilometers. Its engagement range against aerial targets such as aircraft or cruise missiles extends to roughly 50 kilometers, while ballistic missiles descending in their terminal phase can be intercepted within a shorter engagement envelope.

Target detection and tracking rely on a passive electronically scanned array X-band three-dimensional radar derived partly from technology associated with the Russian S-400 system. The radar rotates at roughly 40 revolutions per minute and provides elevation coverage of about 80 degrees. Within this configuration the sensor can detect aerial targets at distances approaching 100 kilometers and track up to 40 objects simultaneously, allowing the command unit to prioritize threats and assign interceptors in rapid sequence. The missile itself follows a guidance profile combining inertial navigation, midcourse updates via datalink from the fire-control radar, and terminal active radar homing during the final phase of the intercept.

The Cheongung-II occupies the medium layer within a layered missile defense architecture. In the UAE configuration, it complements long-range interceptors such as Patriot while covering the terminal phase of ballistic missile attacks and defending critical infrastructure against aircraft or cruise missiles. The relatively compact battery layout allows deployment around air bases, urban areas, and energy infrastructure. Within an integrated network, the system can receive early warning from external sensors while engaging threats as they descend toward defended zones.

The program itself emerges from a long-term effort to modernize South Korea’s domestic air defense capabilities. Development of the KM-SAM began in 2001 as a joint project involving South Korean industry and foreign technical assistance. The Block I variant enters completion in 2011, while the more capable Block II version becomes operational in 2017. The system replaces the older MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missile system within South Korea’s national air and missile defense structure, which is organized as a multi-layered architecture designed to counter aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats. A next-generation Block III variant featuring an active electronically scanned array radar and extended engagement range enters development in 2024.

South Korea’s defense exports to the Middle East have expanded steadily over the past decade. According to data from the Export-Import Bank of Korea, arms exports to the region rose from roughly $240 million in 2019 to around $740 million by 2024. Following the Emirati purchase, Saudi Arabia signed a $3.2 billion contract in February 2024 to acquire the Cheongung-II system. Iraq later became the third regional customer with a $2.8 billion agreement, illustrating the growing demand among Gulf states for diversified missile defense solutions.

The first combat interception by the Cheongung-II, therefore, carries implications extending beyond the single engagement itself. For South Korea, it offers a rare operational demonstration of a domestically produced missile defense technology under real combat conditions. For Gulf states confronted with persistent missile and drone threats from regional actors, the episode also highlights the emergence of credible alternatives to traditional U.S.-supplied systems such as the Patriot air and missile defense system. As countries seek to diversify procurement and reduce reliance on a single supplier, systems like the Cheongung-II illustrate how new industrial players are entering the market for layered air defense solutions.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.