The 14th Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2023) is a statement of intent by an indigenous defence industry that has come of age and looks set to achieve its goal of being the fourth largest arms exporter in...
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The 14th Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2023) is a statement of intent by an indigenous defence industry that has come of age and looks set to achieve its goal of being the fourth largest arms exporter in the world by 2027.
With the demand for weapons made by South Korean defence companies on the rise, it is not surprising that the current edition is the biggest yet. As many as 550 companies from 35 countries are showcasing new products and capabilities at the event being held at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam. Four hundred and forty firms from 28 nations attended the previous edition in 2021.
Almost all the major international defence companies are in town, but the focus is expected to be on domestic firms and their rapidly expanding range of products. The event, which has more than doubled in scale during the past decade, will also serve as a platform to promote advanced technologies in two growing sectors - space and advanced air mobility (AAM).
The largest and most comprehensive trade show in Northeast Asia is hosted by Korea Aerospace Industries Association (KAIA), Korea Defense Industry Association (KDIA) and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA)ADEX 2023. The event, which has an expanded exhibition area compared to the previous edition, has evoked a tremendous response from exhibitors around the world, said Kim Min Seok, KAIA Vice Chairman. “In 2019 and 2021, we closed bookings for exhibition space in June,” he said. “This time, we ran out of exhibition space and had to close bookings in January.”
Among the highlights of the biennial event is the public debut of the KF-21 Boramae advanced 4.5 gen fighter, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF.) The aircraft on display is one of the six flying prototypes built for the KF-21 flight test programme. The 8.8 trillion won (US$7.8 billion) KF-21 project, also involving Indonesia, is slated to deliver the fighter jet to the service by 2026. The aircraft has already attracted international attention, with the United Arab Emirates expressing interest in joining as a partner.
Another major attraction is the display of the ground assets of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK); the weapons have not been showcased in any previous edition of the event. Adding to the excitement is the aircraft demonstrations and exhibition of military assets, such as KF-21 Boramae, Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, FA-50 light attack aircraft, K2 battle tanks and K9A1 self-propelled howitzers. U.S. military assets including an F-22 Raptor stealth jet and an FA-18G Hornet are on display.
The Air Show is now among the top five trade aerospace and defence trade shows in the world in terms of exhibition area. “By 2025, we will be among the top three largest trade shows,” said Min Seok. “The growth of the event is testament to the speedy and sustained development of Korea’s defence industry. We want to showcase all the exciting products and capabilities that our companies have to offer.”
With South Korea and the region being a major market for their products, there is a significant number of U.S. companies at the event. This year’s edition holds a special significance as 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the alliance between South Korea and the United States. About 100 foreign delegations from 55 countries, including defense ministers of nine countries, heads of procurement agencies, and air force chiefs of staff of 14 nations are attending the show on business days, starting today until Friday. As many as 300,000 visitors are expected when the fair opens to the public on Saturday and Sunday.
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