Saudi Arabia is advancing plans to acquire South Korean ballistic missiles and submarines as it seeks to strengthen its strike capabilities and strategic deterrence.
According to regional defense outlet Defense Arabic on April 27 local time, Riyadh is accelerating negotiations with South Korea over the potential acquisition of the CTM-500 short-range ballistic missile and the KSS-III Batch-II submarine program.
The move underscores Saudi Arabia’s effort to diversify beyond its reliance on Chinese missile systems and to build more advanced indigenous capabilities. The kingdom has previously relied on Chinese assistance to develop ballistic missile production capacity, largely in response to regional threats from Iran and Houthi forces.
Saudi Arabia has already turned to South Korea for air defense systems. In 2024, it signed a $3.2 billion deal to purchase 10 batteries of the Cheongung-II (M-SAM2) medium-range surface-to-air missile system, with deliveries scheduled for 2028. The system has also been deployed in the United Arab Emirates, where it has demonstrated strong air defense performance.
If acquired, the CTM-500 would expand Saudi Arabia’s operational capabilities beyond missile defense into long-range precision strike using South Korean systems.
The CTM-500, developed by Hanwha Aerospace, is a next-generation tactical ballistic missile derived from the Chunmoo multiple-launch rocket system platform. It is being developed with a range exceeding 310 miles and a payload capacity of more than 1,100 pounds, reflecting growing global demand for deep-strike capabilities.
The system is expected to be deployed on a transporter erector launcher platform capable of carrying two missiles per vehicle. It can be equipped with multiple warhead types, including high-explosive, penetration and cluster munitions, enabling missions ranging from bunker-busting to anti-ship strikes.
The CTM-500 represents a significant upgrade over the earlier CTM-290 system, extending both range and payload. South Korea plans to market the system to countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Poland as part of a broader push to expand defense exports.
