Iran War Sparks Rush for Korea’s Cheap Patriot-Style Interceptor

The conflict in Iran is pushing Middle Eastern countries toward South Korea’s lower-cost air defense systems, opening a new opportunity to expand its arms export footprint beyond Europe.

In the spotlight is South Korea’s homegrown surface-to-air missile, Cheongung, also known as M-SAM, which has emerged as a viable alternative to the US-made Patriot system as Gulf nations bolster defenses against Iran’s barrage of drone and missile attacks.