Jae-byeong Cha, KAI CEO: "Europe Shows Interest in Next-Generation Main Aircraft Models like KF-21"

[Financial News] Jae-byeong Cha, who is acting as the CEO of KAI (Korea Aerospace Industries), and head of the Fixed-Wing Business Division (Vice President), stated on the 3rd that "interest in domestic aircraft, which began with the FA-50 in Europe, is continuing with next-generation main models including the KF-21." He expressed his intention to do his best to expand into the European market, building on the successful execution of the Polish project.
To this end, KAI is participating in the 'International Defense Industry Exhibition (MSPO)' held from the 2nd to the 5th, showcasing the FA-50 multi-role fighter, which paved the way for European exports by signing a contract for 48 units with Poland in 2022 (worth 3 billion dollars), as well as next-generation advanced domestic fighters like the KF-21, the Korean utility helicopter Surion (KUH), and the light armed helicopter (LAH), covering both fixed-wing and rotary-wing main models.
They plan to attract the attention of overseas customers by exhibiting unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) and multi-purpose unmanned aerial vehicles (AAP) linked to the KF-21 and FA-50, and applying air-launched unmanned vehicles (ALE) to Surion and LAH, significantly enhancing detection, attack capabilities, and survivability in future battlefields with the manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) system.
At this exhibition, KAI aims to solidify practical cooperation systems for the follow-up support project with Poland, while meeting key stakeholders from major participating countries like Slovakia and Bulgaria, which have demands for fighter replacements, to explore new business opportunities.
In June, a delegation from the Polish Air Force visited KAI's headquarters in Sacheon to inspect the FA-50PL production site and showed great interest in domestic aircraft by directly experiencing the next-generation fighter KF-21 of the Korean Air Force.
At MSPO, KAI plans to propose strategic enhancement directions for the Polish Air Force using the KF-21 and look for opportunities to expand business areas including rotary-wing, unmanned vehicles, and satellites.
In 2023, KAI opened a base office at the Minsk Air Base to thoroughly manage the Polish FA-50 project, including customer and technical support. In June, a European corporation was newly established in Warsaw to expand the European market and diversify export platforms.   


ggg@fnnews.com Kang Gu-gwi Reporter