Page 4 - SEOUL ADEX 2023 - DAY 1

...Cont’d from PG 1 in June,” he said. “This time, we ran out of assets including an F-22 Raptor stealth jet
exhibition space and had to close bookings and an FA-18G Hornet are on display.
Four hundred and forty firms from 28 in January.”
nations attended the previous edition in The Air Show is now among the top five
2021. Among the highlights of the biennial event trade aerospace and defence trade shows
is the public debut of the KF-21 Boramae in the world in terms of exhibition area. “By
Almost all the major international defence advanced 4.5 gen fighter, developed by 2025, we will be among the top three largest
companies are in town, but the focus is Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for the trade shows,” said Min Seok. “The growth
expected to be on domestic firms and Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF.) The of the event is testament to the speedy
their rapidly expanding range of products. aircraft on display is one of the six flying and sustained development of Korea’s
The event, which has more than doubled in prototypes built for the KF-21 flight test defence industry. We want to showcase all
scale during the past decade, will also serve programme. The 8.8 trillion won (US$7.8 bil- the exciting products and capabilities that
as a platform to promote advanced technol- lion) KF-21 project, also involving Indonesia, our companies have to offer.”
is slated to deliver the fighter jet to the
ogies in two growing sectors - space and service by 2026. The aircraft has already
advanced air mobility (AAM). attracted international attention, with the With South Korea and the region being a
major market for their products, there is a
United Arab Emirates expressing interest significant number of U.S. companies at
The largest and most comprehensive trade in joining as a partner. the event. This year’s edition holds a spe-
show in Northeast Asia is hosted by Korea cial significance as 2023 marks the 70th
Aerospace Industries Association (KAIA), Another major attraction is the display anniversary of the alliance between South
Korea Defence Industry Association (KDIA) of the ground assets of the U.S. Forces Korea and the United States. About 100
and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Korea (USFK); the weapons have not been foreign delegations from 55 countries,
Agency (KOTRA)ADEX 2023. The event, showcased in any previous edition of the including defence ministers of nine coun-
which has an expanded exhibition area event. Adding to the excitement is the tries, heads of procurement agencies, and
compared to the previous edition, has aircraft demonstrations and exhibition of air force chiefs of staff of 14 nations are
evoked a tremendous response from exhib- military assets, such as KF-21 Boramae, attending the show on business days, start-
itors around the world, said Kim Min Seok, Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, FA-50 ing today until Friday. As many as 300,000
KAIA Vice Chairman. “In 2019 and 2021, light attack aircraft, K2 battle tanks and visitors are expected when the fair opens to
we closed bookings for exhibition space K9A1 self-propelled howitzers. U.S. military the public on Saturday and Sunday.

Diehl Defence IRIS-T Makes Maiden Appearance on KF-21

Diehl Defence’s IRIS-T (InfraRed Imaging multi-role KF-21 fighter aircraft being devel- into major combat aircraft platforms such
System – Tail/Thrust Vector Controlled) air- oped by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). as Panavia Tornado, Eurofighter Typhoon,
to-air missile is being shown for the first The air-to-air missile was successfully test- JAS-39 Gripen, F-16, EF-18 and F-5. It is
time, integrated on the KF-21 at the ongoing fired from KF-21 prototype No. 2 in April also is in service or on order with several
Seoul ADEX. The integration of IRIS-T into 2023. The test firing proved the safe sepa- NATO countries as well as Brazil, Thailand,
the KF-21 opens up new market opportuni- ration of the missile from the aircraft. Saudi Arabia and South Africa. In 2016, the
ties for Diehl Defence and IRIS-T. This is the Norwegian Air Force demonstrated for the
first time that the IRIS-T air-to-air missile is KF-21 aircraft are expected to be deliv- first time, the IRIS-T`s capability of also
being displayed in public on a KF-21. Diehl ered to the programme launch nations engaging sea targets in a test firing.
Defence is also showcasing its ammunition Korea and Indonesia starting from late
products and the ground-based air defence 2026 and integration of the IRIS-T will be The IRIS-T was developed by Diehl Defence
system IRIS-T SLM, which is combat-proven completed by that time. The long standing as the prime contractor with consortium
in current operations and will be an import- cooperation between Diehl Defence and
ant element in air defence systems of KAI was also extended to the FA-50/T-50 partners Germany (pilot nation), Greece,
several European countries. aircraft following ADEX 2021, when the Italy, Norway, Sweden and Spain. It was
two partners agreed on an MoU for the selected as standard weapon for the
The IRIS-T is the primary Infra-Red (IR) integration of IRIS-T into this platform as Eurofighter, F-16, EF-18, Tornado and Gripen
guided missile for the 4.5 generation well. So far, IRIS-T has been integrated fighter aircraft.
4 OCTOBER-17-2023 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS