South Korean advanced weapons systems maker LIG Nex1 said Friday it has won a 3.7 trillion ($2.78 billion) deal to export the Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile system to Iraq.
The company said in a regulatory filing that it signed the deal with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense in Baghdad a day earlier.
The Cheongong-II system battery consists of four mobile missile launchers, each carrying eight missile launch tubes, a multi-function radar, and a command and control center.
The Cheongung-II system is the centerpiece of South Korea’s missile defense strategy, designed to primarily intercept incoming missiles and aircraft to protect against North Korean threats.
This makes Iraq the third country in the Middle East to purchase the air and ballistic missile defense system after the United Arab Emirates in 2022 and Saudi Arabia in February this year.
The missiles and integrated system for the Cheongong-II are manufactured by LIG NexOne, Hanwha Systems provides the radar, and Hanwha Aerospace manufactures the missile launchers and vehicles.
LIG NexOne hopes that the deployment of the advanced technology-based Cheongong-II system in the air defense networks of the three Middle Eastern countries will pave the way for exports of long-range, high-altitude interceptor missile systems to these countries.
The company said the deal is due to the active support of the Korean government, other relevant agencies and local defense companies including the Ministry of Defense and the Defense Development Agency.
It added that it will continue to strive to strengthen the presence of the Korean defense industry and provide the foundation for small and medium-sized defense companies to find new growth opportunities abroad.
alforatnews.iq