Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) achieved record sales of 1.09 trillion won in the first quarter of 2026, fueled by increased aircraft exports. The growth in domestic system development and overseas aircraft sales is expected to continue.
KAI reported on May 6 that its consolidated revenue for Q1 reached 1.09 trillion won, with operating profit at 671 billion won and net profit at 413 billion won. These figures represent increases of 56.3% in revenue, 43.4% in operating profit, and 41.7% in net profit compared to the same period last year.
This strong performance is attributed to stable domestic operations, expansion in international markets, and future project developments.
The rollout of the KF-21 fighter jet in March, along with ongoing domestic projects like the Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH) and Mine Countermeasure Helicopter (MCH), contributed significantly to the revenue growth, alongside deliveries of the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) and FA-50GF.
Notably, aircraft exports surged by 79.5% year-on-year, reaching 307.1 billion won, marking the highest growth in sales.
Sales from the delivery of two T-50i aircraft to Indonesia, along with contracts for the FA-50M in Malaysia and FA-50PL in Poland, reflected stable growth in international operations.
Revenue from aircraft parts also rose by 11.6% to 222.8 billion won, driven by a recovery in the commercial aircraft market. The satellite sector, identified as a future growth area, contributed 10.4 billion won to the overall revenue.
KAI's order backlog has also increased, with domestic and international projects like communication equipment upgrades and FA-50PH PBL contracts growing by 29.4% year-on-year to 309.3 billion won. With the KF-21's integration into the Air Force and additional deliveries of the LAH expected in the second half of the year, KAI anticipates achieving record sales.
A KAI official stated, "If the additional deliveries of the KF-21 and LAH proceed smoothly, we can expect record sales this year."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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