South Korea inks largest ever arms export deal with UAE for missile interceptor

Wisemarko

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2016
Messages
1,310
Likes
2,554
Country flag
Defense News

SEOUL — South Korea has inked a deal with the United Arab Emirates to export midrange surface-to-air missiles, marking the Asian country’s largest-ever arms export deal in history.

Valued about $3.5 billion, the contract for the Cheongung II KM-SAM weapons was singed Jan. 16 during a meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Emirati Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai as they discussed economic cooperation.

Earlier, South Korean defense firms involved in the missile’s production signed respective deals with the UAE-based Tawazun Economic Council: LIG Nex1 will help with system integration; Hanwha Systems will provide a multifunctional radar; and Hanwha Defense will develop the missile’s vertical launcher as well as its ammunition resupply vehicles.

“The UAE is the first foreign nation to operate the Cheongung II,” South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration said in a news release. “The deal is the result of the bilateral defense cooperation based on mutual trust and will serve as a watershed moment for future direction of the two nation’s strategic defense partnership.”

Along with the missile acquisition contract, the two governments signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on defense technologies, including the co-development of weapons systems, DAPA added.

The KM-SAM was first developed by the South Korean Agency for Defense Development with technical support from Russian firms. It was based on technology from the 9M96 missile used on S-350E and S-400 missile systems, and created to replace the older Hawk surface-to-air missiles that were adopted in 1964.

A complete battery consists of four to six eight-cell transporter erector launchers, a multifunction phased array 3D radar, and a fire command vehicle. Employing so-called hit-to-kill technology, the missile can intercept up to six hostile missiles coming in at altitudes below 40 kilometers, with a detection range of 100 kilometers. The missiles have anti-electronic warfare capabilities to keep functioning, despite jamming.

The system passed the South Korean military’s operational requirement verification test in 2015 and began deployment in early 2016, according to the Air Force.
 

Tshering22

Sikkimese Saber
Senior Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2010
Messages
7,869
Likes
23,202
Country flag
Defense News

SEOUL — South Korea has inked a deal with the United Arab Emirates to export midrange surface-to-air missiles, marking the Asian country’s largest-ever arms export deal in history.

Valued about $3.5 billion, the contract for the Cheongung II KM-SAM weapons was singed Jan. 16 during a meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Emirati Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai as they discussed economic cooperation.

Earlier, South Korean defense firms involved in the missile’s production signed respective deals with the UAE-based Tawazun Economic Council: LIG Nex1 will help with system integration; Hanwha Systems will provide a multifunctional radar; and Hanwha Defense will develop the missile’s vertical launcher as well as its ammunition resupply vehicles.

“The UAE is the first foreign nation to operate the Cheongung II,” South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration said in a news release. “The deal is the result of the bilateral defense cooperation based on mutual trust and will serve as a watershed moment for future direction of the two nation’s strategic defense partnership.”

Along with the missile acquisition contract, the two governments signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on defense technologies, including the co-development of weapons systems, DAPA added.

The KM-SAM was first developed by the South Korean Agency for Defense Development with technical support from Russian firms. It was based on technology from the 9M96 missile used on S-350E and S-400 missile systems, and created to replace the older Hawk surface-to-air missiles that were adopted in 1964.

A complete battery consists of four to six eight-cell transporter erector launchers, a multifunction phased array 3D radar, and a fire command vehicle. Employing so-called hit-to-kill technology, the missile can intercept up to six hostile missiles coming in at altitudes below 40 kilometers, with a detection range of 100 kilometers. The missiles have anti-electronic warfare capabilities to keep functioning, despite jamming.

The system passed the South Korean military’s operational requirement verification test in 2015 and began deployment in early 2016, according to the Air Force.
Seems like a warning shot to the United States. South Korea is as close to Western and yet not western as it gets.

What are the chances that UAE might dump the F-35 for good and go for the KAI KF-21 project alongside Indonesia?

After all, it is the next-best thing they can get while not changing sides.
 

Rajaraja Chola

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2016
Messages
754
Likes
2,362
Country flag
Alarming for Indian Defence exports. Most of Korea's tech has foreign.origins. But they are successful in marketing campaigns.

India's Akash was an perfect candidate for the job. Korea got.ToT for.German subs and now they are selling the same sub to India under a various name.
 

Tshering22

Sikkimese Saber
Senior Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2010
Messages
7,869
Likes
23,202
Country flag
Alarming for Indian Defence exports. Most of Korea's tech has foreign.origins. But they are successful in marketing campaigns.

India's Akash was an perfect candidate for the job. Korea got.ToT for.German subs and now they are selling the same sub to India under a various name.
KM-SAM is operational in South Korea while Akash-NG will take some time. There was no way in which we could ramp up production so fast that would satisfy local requirements as well as foreign exports at the same time. This should be planned at the time of creating products. Export-oriented thinking has only started coming in the last 3 years, meanwhile, South Korea is all about exports from DAY 1.

But not to worry, there are still many customers for Akash NG.

This purchase was as political as it was tactical. It will surely have alarm bells ringing in Lockheed Martin's office. UAE has played its cards well. Buying from India won't have made any impact in the US politically speaking - but from Korea, who is now a near competitor to the US arms market, an ally, and a neutral party would definitely be a cause of concern for the American arms manufacturers.
 

Rajaraja Chola

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2016
Messages
754
Likes
2,362
Country flag
KM-SAM is operational in South Korea while Akash-NG will take some time. There was no way in which we could ramp up production so fast that would satisfy local requirements as well as foreign exports at the same time. This should be planned at the time of creating products. Export-oriented thinking has only started coming in the last 3 years, meanwhile, South Korea is all about exports from DAY 1.

But not to worry, there are still many customers for Akash NG.

This purchase was as political as it was tactical. It will surely have alarm bells ringing in Lockheed Martin's office. UAE has played its cards well. Buying from India won't have made any impact in the US politically speaking - but from Korea, who is now a near competitor to the US arms market, an ally, and a neutral party would definitely be a cause of concern for the American arms manufacturers.
Well. That we are not causing an concern among LM, Raytheon etc is a cause for concern for Indian products. Akash Mk1 is in service anyway and IA and IAF has ordered nearly 4000 missiles so far in Akash, Akash 1s variants. So it is still good to be sold. I think NG variant has range till 40km , Mk1 being 25km limit. Moreover it's in deployment since 2012 at least. All production issues resolved after some initial problema.
 

Wisemarko

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2016
Messages
1,310
Likes
2,554
Country flag
Seems like a warning shot to the United States. South Korea is as close to Western and yet not western as it gets.
South Korean missile ranges had been limited to 180km (with a 500kg payload) under a 1979 U.S.-ROK military agreement. The 1979 memorandum of understanding (MOU) allowed the ROK to procure U.S. materials, components and technology as long as Seoul did not violate the range limits that had been set in accordance with U.S. policy.

Since Washington maintained missile export controls in accordance with the 1979 MOU, Seoul began to explore the possibility of acquiring missile technology elsewhere. South Korea’s rapprochement with the Soviet Union, which was a product of former President Roh Tae-woo’s “nordpolitik” or northern policy, provided such an opportunity. Soviets were poor and Korea needed missile technology.

In a 1991 deal Seoul provided Moscow with $3 billion in loans and trade credits. In return
the USSR offered to sell MiG-29 and MiG-31 fighter aircraft to South Korea. In August 1992, Seoul informed Moscow that it would like to become a supplier to the Russian military, and it might want to buy Russian defense firms and operate them as joint ventures. Shortly thereafter, the South sent officials to secret defense plants and expressed an interest in acquiring aerospace technology. The two sides then signed a bilateral military cooperation agreement in November 1992.

In 1994, South Korea began “Operation Siberian Brown Bear” (불곰사업) to acquire advanced military technologies from Russia. An official from South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said they were able to acquire technologies that would take 10-15 years to development and that France and the U.S. would not sell them.

Gradually this cooperation led to the development of current high-performance SAM system.
 

Tshering22

Sikkimese Saber
Senior Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2010
Messages
7,869
Likes
23,202
Country flag
Well. That we are not causing an concern among LM, Raytheon etc is a cause for concern for Indian products. Akash Mk1 is in service anyway and IA and IAF has ordered nearly 4000 missiles so far in Akash, Akash 1s variants. So it is still good to be sold. I think NG variant has range till 40km , Mk1 being 25km limit. Moreover it's in deployment since 2012 at least. All production issues resolved after some initial problems.
The golden word is marketing. We have very potent platforms but there is no intention to export. Tell me, except for a few handouts to Nepal and Maldives, what exports did we have in defense? Nothing. The first candid defense export policy is just to come out now in 2022.

Compare this with Korea.

Korea is a powerhouse of marketing. They showcase the smallest of their products internationally and build upon the export reputation that they have built in the spheres of consumer electronics and automobiles; reliable, reasonably priced, and of high quality.
 

Rajaraja Chola

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2016
Messages
754
Likes
2,362
Country flag
The golden word is marketing. We have very potent platforms but there is no intention to export. Tell me, except for a few handouts to Nepal and Maldives, what exports did we have in defense? Nothing. The first candid defense export policy is just to come out now in 2022.

Compare this with Korea.

Korea is a powerhouse of marketing. They showcase the smallest of their products internationally and build upon the export reputation that they have built in the spheres of consumer electronics and automobiles; reliable, reasonably priced, and of high quality.
Sometimes the products speak themselves. When we have a thousands of missiles under order, and we also had showcased Akash to UAE as well. Anyway this is an disappointment. ME should be India's backyard.
 

Covfefe

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2021
Messages
3,963
Likes
26,868
Country flag
The tracking range of the Korean missile system is said to be around 100km- that's MRSAM category. Isn't Akash for shorter range- 25 to 40 km? Anyway, Akash NG hasn't rolled out yet
 

THESIS THORON

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2021
Messages
6,594
Likes
32,199
Country flag
The tracking range of the Korean missile system is said to be around 100km- that's MRSAM category. Isn't Akash for shorter range- 25 to 40 km? Anyway, Akash NG hasn't rolled out yet
yes.
and akash ng is far much better than the thing these people are getting
 

Akula

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2019
Messages
2,895
Likes
10,850
Country flag
South Korea has a supersonic cruise missile similar to Brahmos NG, which they tested last year.
 

XR SAM

Regular Member
Joined
May 3, 2020
Messages
241
Likes
1,708
Country flag
India can export
1. Pinaka mk2
2. SAAw and other SOW bombs
3. Rudra
4. Missile tracking 3D aesa radars and aerostat radars and other radars.
5. Varunastra ship launched torpedo and Humsa Sonar, mareech torpedo defense
6. Tejas mk1a
7. Astra
8. Dhanush gun and Kalyani guns
9. Tata and Mahindra armoued vehicles.
10. Akash prime with rf seeker.
 

THESIS THORON

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2021
Messages
6,594
Likes
32,199
Country flag
India can export
1. Pinaka mk2
2. SAAw and other SOW bombs
3. Rudra
4. Missile tracking 3D aesa radars and aerostat radars and other radars.
5. Varunastra ship launched torpedo and Humsa Sonar, mareech torpedo defense
6. Tejas mk1a
7. Astra
8. Dhanush gun and Kalyani guns
9. Tata and Mahindra armoued vehicles.
10. Akash prime with rf seeker.
we will export export versions ?? or normal ones ??
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

Articles

Top