The Slovak Defense Forces show interest in the FA-50
Encounters with Eastern Europe including Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary
Domestic light attack aircraft FA-50 manufactured by Aerospace Industries (KAI).
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is accelerating its entry into the Eastern European market with the domestically produced FA-50 light attack aircraft.
On the 12th, KAI announced that it had taken part in the International Defense Exhibition (IDEB 2022) held in Bratislava, Slovakia from the 10th to the 12th and conducted marketing activities for the FA-50 with Slovak advanced trainer and light attack aircraft candidates . .
Slovak Air Force Commander Robert Toth (third from left) and CEO Lee Bong Geun (far left), head of the KAI Export Innovation Center, visited the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) booth at the International Defense Exhibition (IDEB 2022).
The IDEB exhibition has been held every two years since its foundation in 2006. KAI participated for the first time in this exhibition, which was attended by more than 70 defense science and technology companies from around the world. At the exhibition, it was reported that the Slovak defense departments showed interest in the FA-50, and KAI also discussed the state of preparation for industrial cooperation between the two countries with the Slovak Defense Industry Association.
In addition, KAI presented the KF-21 fighter, the FA-50 light attack aircraft and the LAH gunship helicopter, and conducted interviews with potential exporting countries in need of replacing obsolete fighters, such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria. , Croatia and Finland, including Slovakia.
Slawomir Czychoski (second from left), director of the Bureau of Arms Policy of the Polish Ministry of Defense, and Bong-Geun Lee, managing director of the KAI Export Innovation Center (far right), are being interviewed at the International Defense Exhibition (IDEB 2022).
Also at this show, KAI met with Lockheed Martin, its joint marketing partner for the FA-50, to share strategies for expanding exports by sharing information on market characteristics and trends in Eastern Europe, as well as NATO and European Union countries.
Recently, as the new cold war accelerates, countries around the world are actively seeking to increase their defense spending in order to realize independent national defense. Accordingly, KAI is also giving priority to developing new markets in Eastern Europe for the FA-50.
In this regard, the Korean Air Force also raised the need to improve the performance of the FA-50 and receive 20 additional FA-50s as a replacement for obsolete fighters at the “Air Force Capacity Development Workshop” organized by Pyong-ju. Kim and Won Sik Shin at the National Assembly on the 4th of this month.
Ibiza Grebenar, Director of the Croatian Ministry of Defense (second from left) and Jo Wu Re, Managing Director of KAI’s Export Innovation Office (far left), visited the KAI booth at the International Defense Exhibition (IDEB 2022).
The performance enhancement elements of the FA-50 are known as avionics/flight control performance improvement, cockpit performance improvement, range extension, survivability and stability, and weapon capability enhancement. KAI expects to improve the export competitiveness of the FA-50 through improved performance and ultimately contribute to the industrialization of exports.
Bong-geun Lee, managing director of the KAI Export Innovation Center, said, “When the performance of the FA-50 is improved, it will be possible to replace obsolete fighters and increase the power of the ROK Air Force, as well as gain an overwhelming advantage. advantage in the light attack aircraft market, so exports will expand.”
Kang Pil Soo, staff correspondent kang.pilsoo
Source: Economist
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