Seoul. 03 October 2024. Saab and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for industrial cooperation and technology transfer related to the ongoing AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) II competition for the Republic of Korea and future domestic opportunities.
The MoU was signed on the first day of the Korea Army International Defense Industry Exhibition, KADEX, by Chongho Yoon, Senior Executive Vice President and General Manager of Aircraft Program Division, KAI, and Markus Borgljung, Vice President and Deputy Head of Business Area Surveillance, Saab. The MoU signifies Saab’s and KAI’s commitment for industrial cooperation if Saab is selected for the AEW&C II programme.
Saab’s proposal for the Republic of Korea’s ongoing AEW&C II competition is GlobalEye, the only advanced and future proof AEW&C solution on the market that is in production, on contract and in operation. GlobalEye offers higher availability, better sortie rate, longer missions, lower costs and superior performance to any current platform.
The MoU’s collaborative arrangements relate to the transformation of the Global 6500 business jet into a GlobalEye AEW&C special mission aircraft. This includes airframe and aerodynamics modifications, system installation, testing and integration and comes with an extensive package of training and technical assistance to build competencies in these areas. KAI will therefore be self-sufficient in carrying out future modifications, maintenance and repair of GlobalEye (AEW&C II).
“This MoU between Saab and KAI will increase critical radar technology competence, and create domestic capability and self-sustainability to secure strategic independence for the Republic of Korea in the airborne surveillance segment. In fact, GlobalEye is the only system that offers real technology transfer,” says Markus Borgljung, Vice President of Saab’s Business Area Surveillance.
“This program will be a stepping stone to expand the cooperative relationship between Saab and KAI, not only for the AEW&C II program but also any subsequent domestic AEW&C program and future special mission aircraft programs in Korea. Through the technology transfer, we will strengthen our capabilities for future independent domestic research and development for future Special Mission Aircraft programs,” says Chongho Yoon, Senior Executive Vice President and General Manager of Aircraft Program Division, KAI.
This arrangement will include technology transfer to build-up knowledge and capability not only for the modification of GlobalEye but also for potential follow on AEW&C needs in Korea and future domestic programmes. Specifically, KAI will be able to use transferred technology for other Korean Special Mission Aircraft programmes as this offset programme will cover an extensive scope with Special Mission Aircraft design, modification, and mission system integration and testing.
Saab has selected KAI as a key partner as KAI is a total solution provider in aerospace, with a leading role in Korean defence aviation industry with excellent capabilities and suitable facilities in the field of special mission aircraft modification through the AEW&C I programme, P-3CK MPA upgrade programme and on-going Baekdu Capability enhancement II programme. If Saab is selected, KAI’s capability will support Saab to deliver AEW&C II aircraft to ROK Air Force in a timely manner.
