Embraer has signed several memorandums of understanding with South Korean aerospace companies ASTG (Aerospace Technology of Global), EMK (EM Korea Co.), and Kencoa Aerospace to strengthen the partnership with the local defense industry for the future supply of parts for KC – 390 millennium.
The Brazilian aircraft is competing in South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Large Transport Aircraft II (LTA II) program to select the Asian country’s next transport aircraft.
The potential supply of South Korean-made parts will contribute to the offset requirements of the LTA II program.
However, the memorandums are intended to establish long-term business relationships between the parties that will extend beyond South Korea’s new transport aircraft program.
The Korean industry’s capabilities could also lead it to participate in future developments of Embraer’s existing platforms and new aircraft, vehicle and systems projects.
“Embraer is very confident in the mutual benefits that can be gained from this partnership, thus creating a long-term and stable relationship with South Korean partners,” Jackson Schneider, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, told Infodefense.
“Offering more than 50 years of expertise in aviation, technology and innovation, we look forward to creating meaningful partnerships in Korea to create new businesses and solutions,” he added.
New Korean transport aircraft
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) plans to enter new transport and cargo aircraft by 2026. In March 2022, the Defense Project Promotion Committee approved a budget of about 580 million US dollars for their procurement on the international market .
As a competitor in this tender, the most valued are the A400M of the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the KC-390 of the Brazilian Embraer and the C130J of the American defense company Lockheed Martin.
The above competitors will have to provide significant technology transfers to help develop the future national transport aircraft proposed by Korean Aircraft Industries (KAI).
This South Korean aerospace company has submitted a project to develop its own multi-role, twin-engine, medium-weight military transport aircraft, essentially a South Korean version of its own KC-390, but with some differences essential, as the South Koreans want. to get a lot more performance from their next merchandise.
The proposed KAI design has a configuration in which its wings include hardpoints to accommodate different types of guided munitions.
Translated, the South Korean aircraft can obtain attack profiles using long range.
The KAI project should not be limited to military transport or tanker aircraft duties.
However, it should take on other roles, being used as a naval reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare platform, intelligence aircraft, and even as a mother ship for launching drones (loyal wings) and long-range land attack missiles. (cruise missiles).
With information from Infodefense
