[KADEX On Site] Ground Defense Exhibition Split in Two... Opens at Gyeryongdae

Army Reserve Organization Army Association Hosts
KADEX Held at Gyeryongdae from 2nd to 6th

The international defense industry exhibition KADEX 2024, hosted by the Army Reserve Organization, the Army Association, opened on the 2nd at Gyeryongdae, Chungnam, and will run until the 6th.

At the opening ceremony on the 2nd, key domestic and international defense industry officials attended, including Kim Yong-hyun, Minister of National Defense; Park An-su, Chief of Staff of the Army; Seok Jong-geon, Administrator of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration; the Commander of the U.S. 8th Army; the Deputy Minister of Defense of Poland; and the Commander of the Cambodian Army. The event is held at a tent exhibition hall installed on the emergency runway of Gyeryongdae, measuring 150 meters wide and 340 meters long. The organizer stated that the exhibition area of 37,600 square meters is comparable in size to the entire four halls of COEX in Seoul, which total 36,007 square meters.

The exhibition features 365 companies with 1,432 booths. Participants include 21 companies from 14 foreign countries, including the world's largest defense company, Lockheed Martin from the U.S., as well as leading domestic defense companies such as Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem, and LIG Nex1.

Additionally, 46 delegations from 27 countries will visit during the event, including defense ministers from seven countries and chiefs of staff-level officials from 17 countries. The Army Association plans to enhance synergy by holding 24 specialized forums on various topics and presentations of new technologies and products by 59 companies during the exhibition. The Korea-ASEAN Plus Chiefs of Staff Meeting and the Korea-ASEAN Plus International Logistics Forum, attended by logistics commanders from 15 countries, will also be held during the exhibition.

From the 2nd to the 4th, the event is designated as Business Days, allowing entry only to related personnel, while the 5th and 6th are open to the general public. The Army Association expressed expectations that the exhibition will become Asia's largest defense export platform and elevate South Korea's security and national prestige.

During the same period, the Army will hold the 20th Ground Forces Festival at the runway of Gyeryongdae, Chungnam. From the 3rd to the 6th, various demonstration and exhibition programs will continue. The combined arms combat demonstration will showcase a mixed manned and unmanned combat system securing target areas, including 23 unmanned aerial vehicles, K2 tanks, and K9 self-propelled howitzers.

There will also be an opportunity to see retiring equipment such as the anti-aircraft weapon 'Seungjeonpo,' 57mm recoilless rifles, and Barracuda armored vehicles for the last time. Furthermore, four new pieces of equipment, which will be fully operational starting at the end of this year, will be introduced. These include the Tactical Surface-to-Surface Guided Missile (KTSSM) designed to neutralize enemy long-range artillery and bunkers within a 300 km range, the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) replacing the 500MD and Cobra attack helicopters (AH-1S), a laser anti-aircraft weapon that eliminates targets with laser technology, and the 230mm unguided rocket system for large-scale firepower warfare.

Separately, the Army will hold the '2024 ROKA Trail Running Competition' on the 5th. A total of 200 participants, divided into general and military categories, will compete on a 10.1-mile (approximately 16 km) section of the Special Forces march course in Yongin, symbolizing October 1st, Armed Forces Day.