Saudi Defense Delegation Visits Korea in Large Numbers... Interest in Additional Defense System Acquisition

Senior Defense Ministry Group of Over 36 Visits Korea
Customized Inspections of Hanwha Systems and Air Force Yecheon Battery

Senior officials from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense made a large-scale visit to South Korea. It is unusual for a group of more than 30 people from a Middle Eastern country to visit together, and it is known that they showed interest in the additional acquisition of domestic missile defense systems.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to government officials on the 22nd, the Saudi Ministry of Defense formed a group consisting of satellite, air defense, air force, and naval personnel, totaling over 36 people, who arrived in South Korea the previous day. From that day, they are scheduled to visit Hanwha Aerospace’s Boeun factory, Hanwha Systems’ Yongin research center, LIG Nex1’s Gumi factory, and the Air Force’s Yecheon battery. This is a ‘customized L-SAM itinerary.’

The core of the Korean interception system is Cheongung and L-SAM. Cheongung-I is responsible for medium-to-high altitude (10?50 km) interception, previously handled by the Patriot system, while L-SAM, known as Cheongung-II, is planned to handle high-altitude (50?100 km) interception, previously managed by THAAD. Furthermore, when Cheongung-III, with an even higher interception altitude, is introduced in the mid-2030s, the independent air defense network will become even stronger.

Saudi Arabia imported M-SAM worth 4 trillion won last November. It is reported that they are currently considering additional acquisitions. Cheongung-II is a guided missile system capable of simultaneously responding to airborne threats such as ballistic missiles and aircraft, and its price is one-quarter that of the US Patriot missile. The delivery time is much faster.

A government official said, “As the sense of crisis in the Middle East region increases, export volumes are expected to rise significantly,” adding, “The ‘K-defense industry,’ which boasts excellent cost-effectiveness and short delivery times, is expected to enter the US market as well.”