KAI participates in Thailand's Defense & Security 2023

It showcases flagship aircraft models such as KF-21, FA-50, KUH-1, LAH to expand military market in SE Asia

Mi-Sun Kang 1

2023-11-06 17:10:02 misunny@hankyung.com

Aerospace & Defense

Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) announced on Monday it has participated in Defense & Security 2023 exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand

The company plans to strengthen the expanding Southeast Asian defense market through this event. D&S 2023 Thailand will be held from Nov. 6 to Nov. 9.

Defense & Security is a biennial international defense exhibition held in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2003 and is the leading exhibition in the ASEAN region. This year's event will see the participation of 350 representatives from 480 companies, including South Korea.

At the exhibition, KAI will showcase its main aircraft models such as KF-21, FA-50, LAH, and KUH, presenting a diverse lineup of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. KAI intends to explore additional business opportunities in the Southeast Asian market by introducing the concept of unmanned and manned combined systems, which are considered the core capabilities of future battlefields.

KT-1 and T-50 have established themselves as key aircraft in many ASEAN countries, thanks to their versatility and high operational rates. KAI is looking to expand the order volume in the Southeast Asian market and also anticipates potential collaborations for future business opportunities.

KAI has exported a total of 86 aircraft, including T-50 series aircraft to Indonesia (22), the Philippines (12), Thailand (14) and Malaysia (18), as well as 20 KT-1 aircraft to Indonesia. Southeast Asian nations have shown increasing interest in various domestic aerospace platforms like KF-21, LAH, KUH-1 Surion, and unmanned and manned combined systems, based on the reliable operational data of these aircraft.

"Southeast Asia, including Thailand, is a core market for the South Korean defense industry, as it has proven the global competitiveness of domestically produced aircraft such as KT-1 and T-50," CEO of KAI Kang Goo-young said. He also stressed KAI's intention to strengthen partnerships with Southeast Asian countries and expand its presence in future business areas, including unmanned and manned combined systems.

Write to Mi-Sun Kang at misunny@hankyung.com