TSAMTO, April 7. On April 4, Korea Aerospace Industries Co. (KAI) announced its intention to develop transport and multi-purpose aircraft for the country's Armed Forces.
According to Yonhap, KAI and the Agency of Defense Procurement Programs of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Korea (DAPA) have reached an agreement on the need to develop transport and multi-purpose aircraft to meet the needs of the national Armed Forces.
Currently, the Republic of Korea Air Force, Navy and Air Force operate 30 multi-purpose and 70 transport aircraft. The Ministry of Defense aims to replace imported aircraft with aircraft of national design, and in the long term, to promote them to foreign markets.
The transport aircraft planned for development will be used for various tasks, including conducting reconnaissance and patrolling at sea.
The Republic of Korea is one of the seven largest aircraft manufacturing countries in the world, along with the United States, Great Britain, China, Japan, Russia and the European Union (as an organization).
KAI is also considering the possibility of carrying out developments in the field of urban air mobility, personal aviation vehicles for civil and military purposes, and electrified aircraft.
So, KAI intends to develop a prototype of an electrified aircraft by 2029. Hyundai Motor Group appears to be the company's most likely business partner in this area.
KAI said it will focus this year on exporting FA-50 light attack aircraft and Sourion multi-role helicopters (KUH-1) to developing countries. So, two FA-50s are planned to be exported to Thailand, along with promoting sales of these aircraft to Colombia and Malaysia.
In 2020, amid the pandemic, the company's sales amounted to 2.83 trillion won, which is 9.9 percent less than a year earlier (3.11 trillion won). out).
Previously, KAI set a goal of reaching sales of 5 trillion. won by 2025, helped by an increase in orders for spare parts from the world's two largest aircraft manufacturers (Airbus and Boeing) and an expected increase in exports of FA-50s and Sourion helicopters.