Korean Air and U.S. defence contractor L3Harris Technologies recently held an ‘L3 Industry Day’ at the Air Force Hotel in Seoul to explore enhancing the South Korean Air Force’s airborne surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The event brought together key figures, including Jung Woo Park, Senior Vice President of Korean Air’s Aerospace Business Division, and Jason W. Lambert, President of L3Harris Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), along with representatives from 30 domestic and international defence companies.
The Republic of Korea Air Force aims to expand its fleet of Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) systems, essential for comprehensive airspace monitoring and real-time military operations management. Currently, the Korean Air Force operates four Boeing E-737 ‘Peace Eye’ aircraft, with plans to acquire more under a second phase of the project, budgeted at KRW 2.9 trillion, by 2031.
L3Harris has proposed an advanced solution for this phase, featuring Bombardier’s Global 6500 aircraft equipped with IAI’s cutting-edge radar systems. Korean Air, under its 2022 agreement with L3Harris, will play a crucial role in aircraft modifications, parts manufacturing, and operational training. This collaboration promises to bolster the domestic defence industry, enhance local technological capabilities, and integrate them into global supply chains.
“This strategic collaboration will enable Korean Air to acquire and develop cutting-edge technologies in the modification, systems integration, and comprehensive maintenance of advanced special mission aircraft,” said Jung Woo Park, Head of Korean Air’s Aerospace Business Division. “As a frontrunner in Korea’s aviation sector, we are dedicated to cultivating strategic alliances within the defence industry and bolstering the entire aerospace aftermarket value chain.”
“If L3Harris’ Global 6500 AEW&C solution is selected, we will leverage domestic industrial cooperation to achieve our goal of Korean Made – Korean Operated – Korean Maintained,” said Jason W. Lambert, President of L3Harris Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). “We look forward to collaborating with local industry on aircraft modification, mission system production, logistics, and MRO support to enhance the safety, security, and overall well-being of the Republic of Korea.”
Since 1978, Korean Air has managed and improved approximately 6,000 Korean and U.S. military aircraft at its Busan Tech Center, the largest military aircraft maintenance facility in the Asia-Pacific region. The Tech Center’s expertise and advanced facilities are pivotal for the proposed AEW&C project, ensuring robust aircraft modification, systems integration, and long-term fleet maintenance capabilities.
