Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Indonesia has added China’s Chengdu J-10 multirole fighter to its expanding list of prospective combat aircraft.

The Philippine National Defense Department and Korea Aerospace Industries signed a contract on June 3 for the acquisition of 12 more FA-50PH light fighters.

South Korean prosecutors have decided not to indict engineers from PTDI for allegedly accessing unauthorized information related to the KF-21 fighter.

South Korea's KAI and DAPA say the first production model of the KF-21 has entered final assembly, a significant milestone for the domestically produced fighter.

South Korea launched the fourth of its five military satellites into space on April 22.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

KAI and KB Kookmin Bank have signed a memorandum of understanding which will see the South Korean bank provide up to KRW1 trillion ($703 million) in financial support to the OEM.

The decision to avoid carrier-representative landings means less engineering and faster development.

The KAI KF-21 fighter has successfully completed its first nighttime air-to-air refueling test, as the program inches toward operationalization in 2026.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

As KAI's production facilities are operating at full capacity to deliver South Korea's latest programs, the KT-1 basic trainer line could be offshored.

KAI has also officially named its artificial intelligence (AI) pilot “K-AILOT.”

A senior South Korean defense official tells Aviation Week why he is confident of the KF-21's export potential as the fighter enters serial production.

Korea Aerospace Industries has secured a contract with the Indonesian Air Force to extend the service life of the force's KT-1B turboprop trainers.

The Philippine Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of KAI FA-50 fighters after one was lost during a night mission, killing two crew onboard.

In 2023, Korea Aerospace Industries awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to supply ALMDS as part of KAI’s minesweeping variant of the Surion utility helicopter.

Seoul sought to export $20 billion in arms last year, but fell well short of that figure at $9.5 billion.

With fighter recapitalization decisions made, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and others turn their attention to helicopter capacity.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Iraq is to become the first export customer for the Korea Aerospace Industries KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter.

KRW40 billion ($27.8 million) was invested in the facility and the designing of the center in 2022.

KAI will continue manufacturing the Boeing 737 MAX's empennage into the 2030s following an extension of its contract with Boeing.

KAI and South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration have signed the first KF-21 performance-based logistics contract.

British defense company Babcock is working with Korea Aerospace Industries to explore whether the two can partner on military flying training in Europe.