be an upper-tier interceptor designed to take down ballistic missiles, offering capabilities similar to that of the American Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile with a range of and ceiling of . Performance levels were to be twice as superior to the Patriot and Cheolmae II missiles, and was expected to be based on the Russian S-400 technology. This role was filled by the development of the L-SAM. In April 2017, South Korean military officials revealed that a low-tier missile defense system based on the Cheongung was in the final phase of development. Modifying the standard SAM with hit-to-kill technology enables it to intercept incoming ballistic missiles at altitudes of around . The first upgraded Cheongung-II system was delivered to the ROKAF in November 2020. The Block II interceptor is effective against both aircraft and ballistic targets. The KM-SAM will be able to be launched from the Korean Vertical Launch System (K-VLS) aboard Daegu-class frigates in a naval role. Exports LIG Nex1 participated in International Defence Exhibition held in the UAE in 2021 and showed off the Korean weapon system including KM-SAM and AT-1K Raybolt. On 16 November 2021, the UAE's Ministry of Defense tweeted that it plans to acquire the M-SAM as a "qualitative addition" to its existing air defense capabilities and that the deal could reach USD 3.5 billion. An official at South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said that the announcement was "positive" but "we still need to see how negotiations on the details will proceed." On 16 January 2022, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration of the South Korean Government announced that the UAE would purchase the system in a deal worth $3.5 billion. At the time, it was the largest arms export deal ever made by South Korea. The US requested South Korea to send this missile system to Ukraine for the War in Ukraine. However South Korea declined on the basis of its security situation. Operators - Republic of Korea Air Force - United Arab Emirates Army See also L-SAM KP-SAM Shingung Vityaz missile system Type 03 Chū-SAM HQ-16 References External links official site 21st-century surface-to-air missiles Post–Cold War weapons of South Korea Surface-to-air missiles of South Korea Almaz-Antey products Republic of Korea Air Force Missile defense