The Korean company LIG Nex1 received a new foreign order for the medium-range KM-SAM II air defense missile system (also known as Cheongung-II) with anti-missile defense capabilities. Iraq became the new customer, signing a firm contract worth $2.78 billion on September 20.
With this funding, Baghdad will receive 8 batteries, making the cost of each battery $347.5 million. However, the timelines for contract execution and the configuration of the batteries have not been disclosed. Changes to the missile system itself may be indicated by the fact that it will be supplied under a separate index, IQ-MSAM.
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It is worth noting that the battery consists of one command post, one radar system, referred to only as AESA MFR (Active Electronically Scanned Array Multifunction Radar), and 4-6 launchers, each carrying 8 missiles. The capabilities of the KM-SAM II allow it to intercept aerial targets at ranges of up to 50 km and ballistic missiles through kinetic interception (hit-to-kill technology) without revealing its range.
It is important to note that Iraq considered purchasing russian S-400 systems in 2019-2020. In 2014, Iraq ordered 48 Pantsir air defense systems for $2.3 billion, of which russia had delivered about half by 2022, while using other export models to fill gaps in its air defense capabilities.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the KM-SAM was developed with russian involvement. The development of this Korean air defense system, which took place from 2001 to 2011, included contributions from Almaz-Antey and Fakel, which created the first version of the missile based on the 9M96 for the S-400. However, the Koreans replaced this missile and are now exporting the system to other countries that russia previously considered primary customers.
Considering the preferences of many Arab countries to diversify their arms suppliers, Korean weapons present a very interesting alternative to russian systems. Moreover, for any foreign customer, it becomes increasingly difficult to trust the analogues of russian air defense systems with each new strategic facility destroyed in russia, such as the GRAU arsenal.
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