Page 11 - Seoul ADEX 2021 Day 1 - Online Magazine

AIRBUS GROWING ers in the country having ordered more

than 330 commercial airliners and over
STRATEGIC FOOTPRINT 60 helicopters. Airbus is a key partner
within South Korea’s aerospace industry
IN SOUTH KOREA and receives components produced by
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Korean
(MRTT) on display at the show is indica- Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD), and
small and medium enterprises such as
tive of Airbus’ growing success in South AeroSpace Technology of Korea (ASTK),
Korea. The A330 MRTT is designated which are installed on Airbus’ various
as KC-330 Cygnus within the ROKAF, commercial aircraft product lines.
which has four of the type in service,
supporting strategic missions. Airbus Airbus also designed and manufactured
and KAI are partnered together on the South Korea’s first geo-stationary satel-
Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH) and Light lite – GEO-Kompsat, developed the first
Civil Helicopter/Light Armed Helicopter geo-stationary ocean imager, and co-de-
(LCH/LAH) programmes. The first LAH veloped three Earth observation satellites.
is slated to enter service with the Korean The company also built the recently
army by 2023. launched ANASIS-II for secured com-
munications over wide coverage. Airbus
South Korea remains a key strategic is also showcasing its state-of-the-art
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) market for the European aerospace and Pleiades Neo satellite which delivers crisp
A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport defence conglomerate with custom- imagery at 30cm native resolution.

KAI TO GIVE 2 MORE currently operating in the advanced and
lead-in fighter training role.
So far KAI has achieved US$400 million
T-50TH TO THAILAND worth of deals to supply 16 T-50 trainer
jets. KAI has exported 156 trainer jets
worth US$3.1 billion -- 72 T-50 advanced
trainer jets worth US$2.6 billion and 84
KT-1 basic trainer jets worth US$700
million -- to countries that include
Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey, Peru
and the Philippines since its foundation
in 1999. “KAI will continue to export to
new markets such as Southeast Asia,
South America and Africa, and will soon
surpass 100 export units,” a KAI official
said. Thailand already has 12 T-50TH
aircraft in service or on order with KAI.
Korea Aerospace Industries Co. (KAI) of KAI getting an order for six more of the The type is progressively replacing the
will deliver two more T-50TH advanced jet trainers from Indonesia at a contract service’s Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatross
trainer jets to Thailand by November value of US$240 million. This would bring trainer. Thailand signed a contract with
2023. South Korea’s sole aircraft manu- Indonesia’s fleet of T-50i advanced train- KAI in 2019 to upgrade the fleet’s radars
facturer last month had received a US$78 ers to 20 aircraft, with 16 acquired in 2012 and electronic warfare system. Malaysia
million deal to supply the trainer jets. This to replace its older BAE Systems Hawk is also said to be considering the T-50 for
additional order comes close on the heels 53 trainers dating from the 1980s that are its own Light Combat Aircraft programme.

BOEING munitions, under the foreign military sale. (JDAM) Guidance Kits, 1,981 JDAM
will help improve the Republic of Korea’s Guidance Kits, and 1,179) JDAM Guidance
TO SUPPLY capability to meet current and future Kits. Also included in the deal are DSU-
PRECISION threats by increasing available stores 42/B Detectors, Laser Illuminated Target
of munitions on the Korean Peninsula for GBU-56; weapon spare parts, compo-
GUIDED in support of Alliance Operations Plans nents and accessories.
(OPLANs), as well as to fulfill condi-
AMMUNITION tions outlined by the Condition-Based
Operational Control (OPCON) Transition
TO SKOREA Plan.
According to an official of the Ministry of
South Korea will soon buy about 4,000 Defence, the Republic of Korea will have
Precision Guided Munitions from the no difficulty absorbing these articles into
United States at an estimated cost of its armed forces.
US$258 million. The Republic of Korea had requested to
The acquisition of these Boeing built buy 3,953 Joint Direct Attack Munition

SEOUL ADEX - INTERNATIONAL AEROSPACE & DEFENSE EXHIBITION 2021 OCTOBER 19, 2021 | 11