Korean Air and LIG Nex1 Launch Bid for 1.8 Trillion Won Korean Electronic Warfare Aircraft Development

Korean Air announced on the 21st that it will join forces with LIG Nex1 to compete for the "Electronic Warfare Aircraft (Block-I) System Development Project," aimed at securing electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) capabilities for the Republic of Korea Air Force.

The Electronic Warfare Aircraft (Block-I) System Development Project involves equipping aircraft with mission equipment to collect and analyze threat signals from neighboring countries, and to develop large special mission aircraft capable of paralyzing and disrupting enemy air defense networks and wireless command communication systems through electronic attacks (jamming) during wartime. Electronic warfare aircraft can neutralize enemy aircraft and ground radar, as well as cripple communication systems, making them essential equipment on the modern battlefield.

This project will proceed by modifying foreign-made medium-sized commercial aircraft to install electronic warfare mission equipment. The Air Force determined that modifying existing platforms would be faster than developing new airframes, given the required altitude, speed, and operational endurance.

Over the past 50 years, Korean Air has developed, produced, maintained, and upgraded military aircraft systems, building extensive capabilities in modifying and manufacturing various commercial aircraft. Through similar projects such as the P-3C maritime patrol aircraft upgrade and the first phase of the Baekdu project, the company has converted civilian aircraft for military use and secured "flight safety suitability certification (airworthiness certification)" to verify aircraft stability. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Korean Air successfully converted 10 Boeing B777 passenger aircraft and 6 Airbus A330s into freighters, obtaining airworthiness certification. In May, the company was also selected as the preferred bidder for the UH-60 multi-purpose helicopter upgrade project by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, further demonstrating its technological prowess.

This project will be carried out with a government investment of 1.7775 trillion won, with domestic companies leading the research and development. If the Korean Air-LIG Nex1 consortium is ultimately selected as the system integrator for the project, Korean Air will be responsible for system integration and airframe modification and production, while LIG Nex1 will handle system development and the development and installation of electronic warfare equipment. The final proposal is scheduled to be submitted early next month.

A Korean Air official stated, "This electronic warfare aircraft project is the first of its kind in Korea and is considered a major challenge even globally," adding, "Korean Air will take the lead in securing advanced military capabilities for our armed forces, leveraging the technology and infrastructure we have accumulated over the past 50 years."