• Defence Helicopter

  ADEX 2019: Korean naval and training helicopters still up in the air

  17th October 2019

  Two helicopter programmes for South Korea’s military remain unresolved, with no discernible progress or sign of an announcement regarding the Maritime Operations Helicopter Batch 2 …

• Land Warfare

  ADEX 2019: Hanwha unveils first prototype of deadly Redback

  16th October 2019

  On the opening day of Seoul ADEX 2019, Hanwha Defense unveiled its first AS21 Redback IFV to the public. Such is the prestige of the …

• Land Warfare

  ADEX 2019: Hanwha working on a next-generation AAV

  16th October 2019

  The Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) relies on Korea Amphibious Assault Vehicles (KAAV), a licenced version of BAE Systems’ AAV7A1, but further in the …

• Digital Battlespace

  ADEX 2019: Raytheon-led team offers ISTAR aircraft to ROKAF

  15th October 2019

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft, and one contender …

• Defence Notes

  Japan set to make its F-15 fleet more lethal

  30th October 2019

  Japan is moving forward an ambition to modernise its Boeing F-15J fighter fleet, with the US State Department approving, on 29 October, the major upgrade …

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea takes FMS route for new MPAs

  26th June 2018

  South Korea has selected the Boeing P-8A Poseidon to meet its requirement for a new maritime patrol aircraft to augment its fleet of 16 P-3C …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  South Korea confirmed to be flying MALE UAV platform

  20th March 2018

  A new image of a South Korean MALE UAV in flight has recently surfaced. Significantly, the light-coloured aircraft was adorned in Republic of Korea Air Force …

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea delineates need for new MPAs

  15th February 2018

  Already operating a fleet of 16 Lockheed P-3C and P-3CK Orion platforms, South Korea is hunting for newer-generation maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) from overseas sources …

• Land Warfare

  ADEX 2017: Hanwha parades armoured solutions

  24th October 2017

  After absorbing Doosan DST and Samsung Techwin in recent times, Hanwha Defense Systems has emerged as South Korea’s largest defence conglomerate, and it displayed a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ADEX 2017: General Atomics signs MoU at Korea Airshow

  22nd October 2017

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA‑ASI), a manufacturer of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), and the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) signed an MoU …

• Land Warfare

  ADEX 2017: Korea exhibits smart pistol

  23rd October 2017

  Busan-based S&T; Motiv unveiled a new 9mm ‘Smart Gun’ capable of identifying the shooter’s identity and which saves information regarding the angle of fire, direction and …

• Defence Helicopter

  ADEX 2017: Leonardo lauds AW159 and Seaspray

  24th October 2017

  Leonardo was praising the capabilities of its Seaspray 7000-series radar at Seoul ADEX 2017 as the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) prepares to release an …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ADEX 2017: Hanwha Techwin grows giant UGV

  23rd October 2017

  Hanwha Techwin, one of two South Korean companies bidding for a military contract for a future UGV, exhibited its large-size 6x6 entry at Seoul ADEX …

• Land Warfare

  Poland, Korea launch K9 tech transfer

  1st November 2017

  Polish company Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) and Korean defence firm Hanwha Land Systems have formally begun the technology transfer process to enable production of K9 …

• Digital Battlespace

  ADEX 2017: LIG Nex1 airs AESA radars

  25th October 2017

  LIG Nex1 exhibited two vehicle-mounted radar system prototypes at Seoul ADEX 2017, one named the Weapon Locating Radar (pictured on the right above) and the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  IF-X/ KF-X Development - Indonesia

  In May 2018, Indonesia renegotiated the terms of the contract, with no details disclosed. At ADEX 2019, the full-scale mockup and cockpit design were unveiled. ...

• Fighter - multirole

  KF-X Development - South Korea

  In May 2018, Indonesia renegotiated the terms of the contract, with no details disclosed. At ADEX 2019, KF-X full-scale mockup and cockpit design were unveiled. ...

• ISR/special mission

  Baekdu-II (South Korea)

  Programme Background This ISR aircraft programme, which first appeared on the 2020-24 Mid-Term Defense Acquisition Plan, comprises four Baekdu-II aircraft. These will add to two ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  KF-21 Loyal Wingman [South Korea]

  Programme Background KF-21 Boramae Crewed Fighter The Republic of Korea’s Air Force (ROKAF) plans to acquire the KF-21 Boramae fighter, replacing F-4E Phantom II and F-5E/F fighters in the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background Requirement In October 2019, Turkish media sources reported that at least two Azeri pilots travelled to Pakistan to receive training in JF-17 aircraft. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background Two Export Contracts In January 2022, the Daily Sabah reported that Baykar had "recently" signed its first export contract for the Akinci. Haluk Bayraktar said ...

• AEW&C

  AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background The requirement was initially reported in 2016 when it was noted as being part of a long-term development plan, however, reports from ADEX ...

• Fighter - multirole

  IF-X/KF-X procurement (Indonesia)

  Programme Background At ADEX 2019, KF-X full-scale mockup and cockpit design were unveiled. The first prototype of the KF-21 fighter aircraft was rolled out in April ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  VTOL UAV (ROKA)

  Programme Background All branches of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces are placing a large emphasis on the procurement of unmanned systems to improve ISR ...

• ISR/special mission

  ISTAR Aircraft (South Korea)

  Programme Background South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration stated that Seoul is planning to procure additional aircraft to minimize potential surveillance gaps amid growing security ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  KAAV II

  Programme Background The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) operates one Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship and has launched another to support provide operational lift for the ROKMC. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk (South Korea)

  Programme Background Requirments Seoul required UAS assets to help monitor its neighbour to the north and, increasingly, Chinese activities in waters and in the air near ...

• Fighter - multirole

  KF-21 procurement [South Korea]

  Programme Background At ADEX 2019, KF-X full-scale mockup and cockpit design were unveiled. The first prototype of the KF-21 fighter aircraft was rolled out in April ...

• Tanks

  Leopard 2A8 (Norway)

  Programme Background Norway is in possession of 57 Leopard 2A4NO MBTs, but only around 30 of these are still thought to be operational with units. ...

• Tanks

  Leopard 2A8 (Norway - Option)

  Programme Background Norway is in possession of 57 Leopard 2A4NO MBTs, but only around 30 of these are still thought to be operational with units. ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  NCUAV

  Next Corps UAV (NCUAV) is a MALE multirole surveillance UAS being developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and destined for the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA).  The ...

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Advanced Air Vehicle (AAV)

  The Advanced Air Vehicle (AAV) is a multi-purpose development aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The aircraft can carry four passengers and a pilot, although future ...

• Loitering munitions

  KUS-SX

  Developed by the Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD), the KUS-SX is both a loitering munition and an ISR UAV. Development commenced in early 2023, and the drone ...

• Loitering munitions

  Kargi (Improved)

  At ADEX 2022, Lentatek unveiled a new, as-yet-unnamed version of the Kargi loitering munition.  Instead of Kargi's radio frequency (RF) seeker, this new version features an under-nose EO/IR ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  MUM-T

  The Military Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) is a UAS in development by Korean Aerospace Industries. Showcased at Seoul ADEX 2021, the MUM-T can be launched from the ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Multi-Purpose Unmanned Helicopter (MPUH)

  The Multi-Purpose Unmanned Helicopter (MPUH) is a rotary-wing UAS manufactured by Sungwoo Engineering, with Lig Nex1 and Korean Air acting as subcontractors on the project. It is intended ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Alan-2

  Developed by Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering, the Alan-2 is an armoured 4x4 tactical vehicle. It was demonstrated for the first time during the ADEX 2022 exhibition ...

• Loitering munitions

  Canister-Launcher UAV

  Foosung Firstec is developing a canister-launched loitering munition, which the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) has tested. It will have a 0.5kg warhead and be ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  KUS-VT tiltrotor

  The KUS-VT is a tiltrotor UAV that first flew in October 2013 and was exhibited at ADEX 2013. The aircraft is designed to have a ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Night Intruder 500 Vectored Thurst (NI-500VT)

  Manufactured by Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI), the Night Intruder 500 Vectored Thurst (NI-500VT) is an in-development tiltrotor UAV.  KAI debuted the platform in a promotional video during ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  KUS-FC

  The KUS-FC, also known as the Kaori-X, is a stealthy UCAV in joint development by the Agency for Defense Development and the Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD).  ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  AD-G4

  The AD-G4 is a rotary-wing UAV developed by Deftech. It features an IR camera with 10x optical zoom and 680x480 resolution and can host offensive ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  KUS-FT

  Development of the Korean Air Aerospace Division KUS-FT fixed-wing UAV began in 2010 and was completed in November 2014. It entered service with the Republic ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  KUS-LW

  The KUS-LW is a developmental MALE loyal wingman UAV. The Agency for Defence Development (AAD) began developing the KUS-LW in November 2021 before selecting the Korean ...

• Loitering munitions

  F-5000 E

  The F-5000 E is an in-development loitering munition from Deftech. Its power plant is an electric brushless motor. It can host different warheads, including a 5kg ...