Page 14 - DSA 2024 - DAY 2 | DAILY NEWS

South Korean Defence Companies Grow

Footprint in Malaysia, Region

Countries across regions are increasingly South Korea, which has made giant strides of 2026. KAI has plans to develop KF-21
staying away from Russian arms due to in the defence sector in recent years, is num- Block-2 with upgraded air-to-ground attack
the fear of inviting U.S. sanctions, opening ber nine on the list of top weapons export- capabilities by 2028. Among the jet’s poten-
the door for other arms exporters such as ers; the country accounted for 2.4 percent tial buyers are Malaysia, Peru, Philippines,
South Korea to fill the gap. of the world’s defence exports from 2018 Thailand, Qatar and Senegal.
to 2022, an increase over 0.5 percent over
With Malaysia and many countries in the the previous five-year period. In February
region on the lookout for new weapons, last year, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Among South Korea’s major exports in re-
growing arms exporters like South Korea won a US$920 million contract to deliver 18 cent years have been the sale of patrol
and Turkey have made major inroads into FA-50 jets to Malysia; the first aircraft is due corvettes to Malaysia (US$1.2 billion), 12
the market over the last few years. Malaysia, for delivery in 2026. Significantly, KAI staved FA-50 light combat aircraft to Philippines
which has been dependent on foreign sup- off competition from an Asian company - (US$420 million), 16 T-50s to Indonesia
pliers for their defence needs, was among India’s Hindustan Aeronautics, makers of (US$4 billion), 12 T-50s to Thailand (US$110
the major importers of Russian weapons, the Tejas light combat aircraft – to win million) and military vehicles to Philippines
but there has been a significant drop off in the contract. The FA-50, a combat-capable (US$345 million USD). In July last 2022,
the country’s arms purchases from Russia in derivative of the T-50 Golden Eagle trainer, KAI signed the deal for 12 FA-50 Block 10
recent years. In 2017, Malaysia retired the is popular in the region, with three other and 36 FA-50PL Block 20 with the Polish
MiG-29 fighter aircraft from service and has Southeast Asian countries - Indonesia, the government; the FA-50 Block 10 jets have
also had problems keeping its Su-30MKM Philippines and Thailand - also operating been delivered/
ground-attack aircraft operational. the aircraft type.

There has been a decrease in Malaysia’s im- The South Korean defence industry has Malaysia and South Korea seem keen on
port of U.S.-made weapons as well, with the earned a name for itself through the sale further building up their partnership in the
country keen on an equidistant relationship of its armoured vehicles, tanks and fight- defence sector. In January, the two countries
with both the U.S. and China considering er jet trainers, cluster bombs and rocket held high-level discussions to boost the
their power struggle in the region. Another launchers, to a growing list of countries. bilateral defence and arms industry cooper-
reason for the fall in imports, apart from is The country’s biggest defence project - the ation in cybersecurity and other areas. Joint
the coming of age of new defence industries KF-21 Boramae - has been approved for drills are in the anvil. Recently, South Korea’s
that offer weapons comparable in quality mass production. The fighter jet is much destroyer Yang Man Choon (DDH-1) arrived
and significantly cheaper than those made in demand internationally even though the at the Port Klang Cruise Terminal, signifying
by defence contractors in North America South Korean Air Force is only expected their commitment to enhance defence ties
and Europe. to induct its first KF-21in the second half and maritime security cooperation.

14 MAY-07-2024 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS