TEL AVIV (JTA) — South Korea is interested in buying Iron Dome missile defense batteries from the Israeli weapons manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
South Korea expressed interest, according to Reuters, after Iron Dome achieved a 90 percent success rate in intercepting short-range missiles fired at Israeli cities from Gaza in Israel’s recent conflict with Hamas. South Korea faces a threat across its border from North Korea.
Rafael CEO Yedidia Yaari told Israel Radio, according to Reuters, that Rafael representatives had traveled to Seoul, South Korea’s capital, to promote Iron Dome.
“[South Korea] is very worried not only about rockets but other things as well,” Yaari said. “You can certainly include them in the club of interested countries.”
Rafael developed Iron Dome’s technology, which is mostly funded by the United States. Each interceptor missile costs $50,000.
Last week, Congress approved an additional $225 million for Iron Dome development.
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