In the spotlight is South Korea’s home-grown 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 defences against Iran’s barrage of drone and missile attacks.

The key selling point for manufacturers Hanwha Aerospace and LIG Nex1: similar performance to the US$4 million (S$5.1 million) Patriot PAC-3 missile for about a quarter of the price.