KAI to Exhibit Full Combat & Trainer Fleet at Seoul ADEX 2025 — Korea’s Leap in Asia-Pacific Defence

KAI’s Full Combat & Trainer Fleet Soar Over Seoul

Mohd Hanif Ismail - : Oct 17, 2025 - : 11:00 am

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South Korea’s aerospace giant Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is set to take centre stage at Seoul ADEX 2025, with a comprehensive aerial showcase of its full operational and development aircraft lineup. From 17–19 October 2025, the public will have a rare opportunity to see KAI’s combat jets and helicopters in flight and on display at Seoul Airport, ahead of the business-to-business segment of the exhibition.

Among the star attractions will be the KF-21 Boramae, LAH Miron, KUH Surion, T-50 Golden Eagle, FA-50 Fighting Eagle, KT-1 Woongbi, and the T-50B (Black Eagles) aerobatic variant, forming the full spectrum of KAI’s domestic aviation offerings. The original promotional announcement flagged the “rare chance to see KAI’s full lineup in action,” underlining the significance of this showcase. The event is as much a demonstration of national defence sovereignty as it is an opportunity for export promotion across the Asia-Pacific region.

Seoul ADEX 2025 stands as Korea’s premier aerospace and defence exposition, hosting public days from 17 to 19 October and business days until 24 October. The 2025 edition is notable for being the largest in ADEX’s 30-year history and is spread over dual venues: Seoul Air Base in Seongnam and the KINTEX convention centre near Goyang. This iteration of ADEX is explicitly positioned to highlight South Korea’s expanding aerospace ambitions and defence diplomacy in Northeast Asia.

A Turning Point for Korean Airpower & Exports

The aerial display of KAI’s full fleet signals more than just national pride. It comes at a moment when Korea’s defence industry is pivoting toward external markets and deeper regional integration. Notably, KAI recently secured a second order for 20 additional KF-21 fighters from Seoul valued at 2.39 trillion won (roughly USD 1.76 billion). Combined with earlier contracts, the KF-21 programme has already moved into serial production. KAI also remains Korea’s only fully integrated aircraft systems and manufacturing entity, giving it both strategic weight and export leverage.

The KF-21 Boramae itself is central to this push: a 4.5-generation multi-role aircraft built partly through Korean domestic supply chains, powered by twin GE F414 engines, and expected to enter service starting in 2026. Its development began as a national effort to replace ageing F-4 and F-5 platforms and to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. Versions with enhanced stealth (so-called “KF-21EX”) are under development, with plans for internal weapon bays and advanced avionics. In this context, the ADEX demonstration is not just about showing existing aircraft but signalling future progression to regional buyers.

Further accentuating Korea’s export thrust, KAI has successfully brokered arms deals such as a recent USD 712.8 million (≈ 975.3 billion won) contract to supply 12 FA-50 jets to the Philippines by 2030. This stands as a vivid illustration of Korea’s strategy to become a major defence exporter – particularly to nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

A Litmus Test of Korea’s Emerging Role in Regional Defence Supply Chains

Seoul ADEX 2025 represents a litmus test of Korea’s emerging role in regional defence supply chains. The display of KAI’s entire aviation portfolio—spanning trainers, light combat jets, advanced fighters, and helicopters—underscores a capability rarely matched by other countries outside the traditional Western suppliers.

In a region increasingly sensitive to airpower balance, KAI’s push into exports offers potential alternatives to Western and Russian platforms, particularly for smaller nations seeking capable but affordable systems. The broader trend of Asian nations developing sovereign defence industrial bases can shift procurement dynamics and open space for regional interdependence.

KAI's Ready to Take to the Skies

As KAI’s aircraft take to the skies above Seoul Airport, the story is far more than a national air show—it is Korea’s declaration of its readiness to compete in the Asia-Pacific defence market. The spectacle offers a tangible preview of assets Korea will bring to regional partnerships and underscores the industry’s ambition to shift from importer to innovator-exporter.