KAI Targets Middle Eastern Defense Market with Participation in Iraq Exhibition

Main Aircraft Models on Display: KF-21, FA-50, LAH
Strategy to Expand Defense Exports to North Africa and Beyond

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) participated in the Iraq Defense Exhibition (IQDEX 2025). The company aims to use Iraq as a starting point to expand its defense exports to the Middle East, North Africa, and other regions.

According to KAI on April 23, IQDEX, which is being held for the 13th time this year since its inception in 2012, is a leading international defense exhibition representing the MENA region. At this exhibition, KAI showcased its main aircraft models such as the KF-21, FA-50, and LAH, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles including the UCAV and AAP, which are designed to operate alongside the KF-21 and FA-50 fixed-wing aircraft.

KAI's next-generation air combat system (NACS), which applies manned-unmanned teaming systems?considered a game-changer for future battlefields?to both fixed-wing and rotary-wing main aircraft, is attracting significant attention in overseas markets. At this exhibition, KAI also introduced a manned-unmanned teaming system that applies air-launched effectors (ALE) to the Surion (KUH) and Miron (LAH), presenting operational concepts for rotary-wing aircraft in future warfare.

The Middle East has traditionally relied on American or European weapons systems, but due to limitations in follow-up support and performance upgrades, countries in the region are increasingly turning to Korean weapons systems, which are recognized for their reliability and scalability. With security conditions in the Middle East remaining unstable, major countries in the Middle East and Africa are racing to strengthen their defense capabilities. At the same time, there is growing demand to replace aging aircraft, leading to increased interest in a variety of aircraft platforms?including the FA-50, KF-21, and Surion.

In particular, Iraq, the host country, signed a contract with KAI in December last year to acquire Surion helicopters worth 135.8 billion KRW. The contracted helicopters are special firefighting variants developed specifically for firefighting missions.

KAI stated, "In the case of Iraq, following the export of 24 T-50IQ aircraft in 2013, we succeeded in exporting complete aircraft again after 11 years with the Surion export contract signed in December last year. Based on our diversified export platforms, we will continue to expand exports of our main aircraft models in the Middle East and Africa, while also strengthening partnerships with each country for future projects."