Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) for collaboration in which the companies will offer the Republic of Korea (ROK) military forces with unmanned Loitering Munitions systems. As part of the MOU, KAI and IAI are aiming to expand their long cooperation to market the loitering munitions to ROK Army requirements. KAI has been taking leading role in national aviation industry and security with successful development of KT-1 Basic Trainer, T-50/FA-50 trainer/Light Combat Aircraft, KUH-1 Utility Helicopter and RQ-101 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, KFX (Korea Fighter eXperimental) and LAH (Light Armed Helicopter)/LCH(Light Civil Helicopter).
Israel Aerospace Industries President & CEO, Boaz Levy, said: “The MOU’s signed today is another milestone in our growing collaboration with KAI. IAI has long relations with the ROK and the local industries and we are happy to join KAI, one of Korea’s leading companies to explore future opportunities. Combining IAI’s proven capabilities in loitering munitions and KAI’s technologies and products to create an opportunity for an improved solution to the future battlefield.
Korea Aerospace Industries President & CEO, Hyun-ho Ahn expressed the importance of partnership between IAI and KAI which have been lasted for last decades for many programs including defense and commercial projects. Through the combination of domestic aircraft technology and IAI’s excellent unmanned aerial system technology, IAI and KAI would provide a foothold for innovation, such as strengthening the defense power of the Republic of Korea and commercializing exports in the future. Mr. Ahn emphasized that KAI is pleased to initiate the collaboration dialogue with IAI team in earnest through these MOUs.
With 30 years’ experience in developing combat-proven loitering munitions systems, IAI’s range of solutions are uniquely capable of searching, identifying and neutralizing targets, precisely and effectively. Employing various guidance systems and capabilities – our loitering systems provide solutions to a wide array of battle scenarios. HARPY is an all-weather day/night “Fire and Forget” autonomous weapon, launched from a ground vehicle behind the battle zone. The HAROP is a standoff loitering attack weapon system designed to locate and precisely attack targets. The Green Dragon is a low-cost loitering munition designed to provide small ground units with significant situational awareness and firepower in a compact envelope.
