Despite the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, Iraq has continued to be a significant customer of the Russian defence industry. However, the country is now pivoting towards purchasing the South Korean KM-SAM medium-range surface-to-air missile system.
Currently, there is no official information about the ongoing negotiations. According to Army Recognition, Baghdad is interested in acquiring eight KM-SAM batteries in the Block 2 version, also known as Cheongung-II, which includes anti-missile defence capabilities. The estimated value of this potential contract is $2.56 billion. If finalised, this will be the third export contract for the KM-SAM Block 2, following a $3.5 billion deal with the UAE in 2022 and a $3.2 billion deal with Saudi Arabia in early 2024.
A review of these countries’ investments in air defence reveals a trend. In 2007, the UAE abandoned talks with Russia for the S-400 system, opting instead for the Korean system. Similarly, in 2017, Saudi Arabia nearly reached an agreement on the S-400 but chose the American THAAD instead.
Iraq was the last among these Arab states to express interest in the S-400 around 2019-2020. Notably, in 2014, Baghdad ordered 48 Pantsir air defence systems from Russia for $2.3 billion, of which only half had been delivered by 2018. However, by 2022, with the contract still unfulfilled, Russia was redirecting Pantsir systems to the Ukrainian frontline.
All three countries ultimately abandoned their plans for Russian weapons in favour of alternatives like the KM-SAM Block 2. The reasons for this shift include a desire to diversify arms suppliers and the competitive pricing of the Korean system, which costs about $320 million per battery.
The KM-SAM battery comprises one radar, a command post, and four to six launchers, each with eight missiles. Developed in 2017, the KM-SAM Block 2 can intercept both non-ballistic and ballistic targets. This shift is further supported by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed by South Korea and the UAE, expected to boost South Korean defence exports to West Asia.
