L3 Harris and L3 Industry Day Event with US Defense Contractor
Discussion on Additional Acquisition of Air Control Devices
Korean Air has partnered with the U.S. defense contractor L3Harris to discuss ways to enhance the Republic of Korea Air Force's airborne surveillance and control capabilities.
On the 14th, Korean Air announced that it held the "L3 Industry Day" event at the Air Force Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, the previous day to discuss these matters.
The event was attended by Park Jung-woo, Head of Korean Air's Aerospace Business Division, Jason Lambert, President of L3Harris ISR, as well as representatives from major domestic and international defense companies including Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israeli defense firm Elta Systems, LIG Nex1, Yonhap Precision, and Haneol Systems, totaling over 30 organizations.
The main topic of the event was the additional procurement of airborne early warning and control aircraft. Currently, the Republic of Korea Air Force operates four Boeing E-737 "Peace Eye" airborne early warning and control aircraft. In addition, a second phase project is underway to procure additional airborne early warning and control aircraft from overseas by 2031, with a budget of 2.9 trillion KRW.
L3Harris had proposed a model equipped with IAI's state-of-the-art radar mounted on Bombardier's latest aircraft, the Global 6500, for the second phase of the airborne early warning and control aircraft procurement project. Following the business cooperation with L3Harris in 2022, Korean Air will participate in the entire production process of the future procured aircraft, including modification, mass production of parts, and personnel training for actual operation. Furthermore, the domestic defense industry is expected to gain opportunities for securing indigenous defense technology through technology transfer and indirect participation in the global supply chain by winning this project.
Park Jung-woo, Head of Korean Air's Aerospace Business Division, stated, "Taking this airborne early warning and control aircraft project cooperation as an opportunity, we will secure modification integration and maintenance technology for the latest special mission aircraft, and as a leading company in the domestic aerospace industry, we will do our best to activate the aftermarket and create a mutually beneficial ecosystem with our partners."
Jason Lambert, President of L3Harris ISR, said, "If the Republic of Korea Air Force selects L3Harris's Global 6500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, we will carry out domestic industrial cooperation including aircraft modification, mission equipment production, comprehensive logistics support, and the establishment of an MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) center."
From the left, Jason Lambert, President of L3Harris IRS; Michael Calderon, Vice President of Bombardier Defense Business Development; Ashraf Sharvit, Vice President of IAI/Elta Systems; Park Jung-woo, Head of Aerospace Business Division at Korean Air; and Kook Chan-ho, Head of C5ISR Business Division at LIG Nex1. (Photo by Korean Air)
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