The Iraqi Ministry of Defense signed off an agreement On Friday, to purchase the Cheongung-II Air Defense Systems, produced by the South Korean defense company LIG NEX1, worth $2.78 billion.

The agreement was signed between Iraqi Defense Minister Thabit al-Abbasi and South Korean Ambassador to Iraq Choi Sung-soo. This deal is Iraq’s first purchase of a large-scale defense system since 1991.

Minister al-Abbasi stressed that this purchase is an important milestone in Iraq’s air defense strategy, saying, “This step will be instrumental in a change that will protect the entire Iraqi airspace and ensure regional balance for the country.”

The Cheongung-II system will be exported for the third time, following a $3.5 billion agreement with the United Arab Emirates in 2022 and a $3.2 billion deal with Saudi Arabia in February.

The Cheongung-II is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (M-SAM) system intended to intercept ballistic missiles at 15 to 40 kilometers (9.3 to 24.9 miles) from the surface.

LIG Nex1 believes that the most recent agreement has facilitated the establishment of additional export opportunities, as it has secured clients from three significant Middle Eastern countries. The company anticipates that deploying the Cheongung-II system to the air defense networks of three Middle Eastern countries will facilitate the export of long-range, interceptor, and rapid aircraft missile systems to these countries.

According to the contract, the first part of the defense system is expected to be delivered to Iraq in 2025. In addition, a team from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense will be sent to South Korea to examine the system more closely. (ILKHA)