Hanwha Aerospace said Tuesday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with KAI on Monday (local time) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the third World Defense Show. The agreement covers cooperation on aircraft-weapons business projects.
Under the MOU, the companies will cooperate on systems integration of air-launched weapons for the KF-21 and FA-50 fighter platforms and pursue joint marketing aimed at exporting aircraft and aircraft weapons. They said they plan to carry out aircraft-weapons development projects led by the Agency for Defense Development to secure technology at a global top-tier level.
Hanwha Aerospace said it is conducting preliminary research, overseen by the Agency for Defense Development, on advanced weapons including long-range air-to-air missiles and supersonic air-to-ground and air-to-ship missiles based on ducted solid-ramjet engines.
KAI CEO Cha Jae Byung said that as confidence in South Korea’s defense technology has grown, overseas customers have recently been asking for Korean-made packages covering not only aircraft platforms but also broader operating systems. He said domestic defense companies will join forces through joint marketing to expand exports.
Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae Il said he is confident the company can meet its goals for developing domestically produced aircraft weapons by combining Hanwha’s experience in missile development — including air-to-air, air-to-ground and surface-to-air programs — with KAI’s capabilities in fighter integration.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.