Iraq will procure 8 South Korean-made M-SAM air defense systems with a contract worth $2.63 billion.
Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet Al-Abbasi announced that the contract for the supply of South Korean-made Cheongung-II (M-SAM II) air defense systems has been finalized and will be signed next week. the contract covers 8 batteries of air defense systems.
The deal, known as the “Korean Patriot,” is reportedly worth 3.5 trillion Korean won, or about $2.63 billion. The deal is an effective step toward expanding South Korea’s defense exports following previous deals with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia.
KM-SAM was developed by the South Korean Agency for Defense Development in collaboration with Russia’s Almaz-Antey and Fakel. The system serves as part of a multi-layered defense strategy against air-breathing threats and aims to replace older MIM-23 Hawk batteries in South Korea’s missile defense architecture.
