[Exclusive] Major Middle Eastern Defense Industry Players Visit Korea in Succession [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Iraqi Military Commander Visits Korea, Discusses Helicopter and Other Exports
Iraqi Defense Minister and Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Scheduled to Visit Korea

Major players in the Middle East defense industry are visiting Korea one after another. They plan to review ‘K-Defense’ items, and there is keen interest in whether exports will be finalized within this year.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to government officials on the 6th, on the 4th, Kareem Abbood Mohammed Al-Tameemi, Commander of the Iraqi Counterterrorism Command, and Sameer Zaki Hussein Al-Maliki, Commander of the Army Aviation Command, visited Korea. The two commanders met with Defense Minister Shin Won-sik on the 5th.

Iraq has so far deployed Russian attack helicopters Mi-35 and anti-tank attack helicopters Mi-28. However, due to the Ukraine war, parts supply has become difficult, and it is now known to be virtually at a standstill.

Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed, Commander of the Iraqi Air Defense Command, also arrived on the 5th to discuss the introduction of the medium-range surface-to-air missile system ‘Cheongung-II’ (MSAM-II). Known as the ‘Korean Patriot,’ the Cheongung-II is considered a ‘K-Defense’ export hit product, having been introduced by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. Following senior military officials, on the 17th of this month, Thabet Muhammad Al-Abbasi, Iraqi Minister of Defense, is expected to visit Korea to finalize the defense export items and amounts.

Talal Abdullah T Alotaibi, Deputy Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia, will also visit Korea for two days starting on the 14th of this month. He plans to visit the Republic of Korea Navy’s Jinhae Submarine Command to inspect the operationally deployed 3,000-ton Jangbogo III (Dosan Ahn Changho-class) Batch-I No. 2 submarine.

They will also visit the Daegu Air Defense Control Command of the Air Force and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). They will witness firsthand the performance of the domestically produced fighter jet ‘KF-21 Boramae,’ which is currently undergoing test flights. The Korean government and Saudi Arabia will discuss joint development of a 6th-generation fighter jet.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.