United Arab Emirates to purchase South Korean Cheongung II air defense missile systems.

According to information published on the newspaper website "The Korea Herald" on November 17, 2021, United Arab Emirates will purchase South Korean air defense missile systems Cheongung II also called M-SAM.
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South Korean Cheongung II medium-range air defense missile system. (Picture source Army Recognition)

On Tuesday, November 16, 2021, United Arab Emirates (UAE) defense ministry has announced the acquisition of the latest generation of South Korean-made M-SAM medium-range surface-to-air guided missile system via the Tawazun Economic Council. The amount of the contract could reach a value of $3.5 billion.

In April 2021, Army Recognition has reported another purchase of military equipment from South Korea by the UAE. During IDEX 2021, Defense Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, a contract was released regarding the acquisition of an undisclosed number of Chunmoo multi-caliber MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) manufactured by the South Korean company Hanwha Defense as well as guided, unguided rockets and missiles.

The Cheongung 2 also named KM-SAM is a South Korean medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system that was developed by the South Korean Agency for Defense Development (ADD) with technical support from Almaz-Antey and Fakel, based on technology from the Russian-made 9M96 missile used with the S-350E and S-400 air defense systems.

A complete battery of Cheongung 2 consists of up to six 8-cell transporter erector launchers (TELs), a passive electronically scanned array (PESA) X-band multi-function phased array 3D radar (based on the one from the Russian S-400), and a fire command vehicle. The radar operates in the X-band and rotates at a rate of 40 rpm, covering up to 80 degrees in elevation. It can detect targets within 100 km and track up to 40 simultaneously. The Cheongung SAM system is intended to replace South Korea's MIM-23 HAWK SAM systems, which are locally referred to as Cheolmae.

The KM-SAM can intercept up to six targets simultaneously, and the missiles have anti-electronic warfare capabilities to keep functioning despite jamming. It can intercept targets up to an altitude of 15 km at a range of 40 km.