Latest news with #DAPA
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
KAI secures second W2.4tr KF-21 deal with Korea's defense agency
Korea Aerospace Industries has signed an additional KF-21 supply agreement worth 2.39 trillion won ($1.76 billion), selling 20 more of South Korea's next-generation fighter jets. According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration on Friday, KAI is poised to deliver 20 KF-21 Boramae jets in addition to the first contract for the initial production of 20 units signed in June last year. This deal also includes providing technical manuals, education and follow-up logistical support for the jets. The KF-21 is Korea's first domestically developed 4.5-generation fighter jet, which will be introduced to the Air Force starting in the second half of 2026. Historically, the country has relied on foreign military technology — predominantly from the US. The jet is set to replace older aircraft, including the F-5, F-4 Phantom II, KF-16 and F-15K, and bolster Korea's air power. Powered by two General Electric F414 engines, the jet can reach up to Mach 1.8 —approximately 2,200 kilometers per hour — and support a wide range of weapons such as air-to-air missiles, precision-guided bombs and a cannon. DAPA recently announced that it carried out a successful flight test of a domestically developed long-range air-to-surface guided missile, set to be integrated into the KF-21, highlighting the jet's deep-strike capabilities. The KF-21 also shows potential for exports to Indonesia, the UAE and other countries. Notably, Indonesia is a partner in the KF-21 fighter jet program and recently finalized a deal with Korea to fund 600 billion won as a contribution. 'The KF-21 symbolizes the remarkable growth of Korea's formerly nascent aerospace industry,' stated a KAI official. 'We are committed to enhancing our Air Force's capabilities and contributing to advancing the aerospace industry.' Meanwhile, DAPA signed an additional 623.2 billion won engine supply agreement with Hanwha Aerospace, a subsidiary of Hanwha Group, raising the total contract value to 1.18 trillion won. Its sister company, Hanwha Systems, also finalized a deal valued at 124.8 billion won for the remaining supply of AESA radars.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
S. Korea conducts separation test for homegrown long-range air-to-surface guided missile
The state arms procurement agency has successfully conducted a safe separation test for a homegrown long-range air-to-surface guided missile under development, officials said Wednesday. The test, which is aimed at verifying whether the missile clearly detaches from the aircraft without affecting its safety and functions, took place at an Air Force unit on Monday, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. DAPA plans to conduct various tests of the missile using a test FA-50 aircraft before verifying the missile on a KF-21 prototype starting in 2027, it said. Since 2018, South Korea has been seeking to develop long-range guided missiles to be equipped on the KF-21 to carry out precision strikes on key enemy targets. DAPA said the latest test marked a key milestone in the project and expected the guided missiles to be exported alongside the KF-21 to boost arms exports. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
18-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
S. Korea to launch advisory committee for arms exports
South Korea is preparing to launch an advisory committee under the state arms procurement agency, consisting mostly of non-governmental experts, to boost its defense technology exports, sources close to the matter said Wednesday. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration recently came up with the plan and is "preparing to launch the committee,' a DAPA official told The Korea Herald via phone. 'The review and nomination of candidates will kick off in September.' The committee will consist of 15 members who are considered experts in arms exports. Each member will serve for two years and may be nominated for an additional two-year term. The committee members will be tasked with drafting strategies for the country's arms exports by cooperating with various teams within DAPA currently handling outbound shipments to continents including Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North America and more. The latest plan follows President Lee Jae Myung's campaign pledge to buoy the defense industry, making it one of the country's top four future sectors alongside semiconductor, secondary batteries and automobile. As part of his pledge, Lee said he plans to regularly preside over defense export promotion and strategy meetings, which usually involve Army officials from the Office of National Security. South Korea would become one of the world's top four arms exporters, Lee said. South Korea's arms exports fell to $9.5 billion last year after hitting a record high of $17.3 billion in 2022 and sliding to $13.5 billion in 2023. Separate government sources said last week that South Korea is likely to sign a deal worth some $6 billion to export additional K2 tanks to Poland later this month. If materialized, it would be Seoul's biggest single arms export contract to date. Under the deal set to be signed in late June, Poland would receive 180 K2 tanks, of which 117 units will be produced by South Korean defense contractor Hyundai Rotem Co. The rest will be manufactured locally by Warsaw's state-owned PGZ.
Korea Herald
18-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Korean shipbuilding rivals unite for Poland's W8tr submarine bid
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean, maritime-to-defense competitors, are forming an alliance to win Poland's 8 trillion won ($5.8 billion) worth submarine bid, aiming to resolve their decades-long rivalry to boost global exports. According to industry sources Wednesday, the two companies are seeking to land Poland's Orka Project by presenting themselves as a South Korean consortium, marking their first partnership in pursuing a large-scale export contract. The project includes construction and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) of three 3,600 metric ton submarines for the Polish Navy. While project details remain undisclosed, industry insiders anticipate that Poland will select a preferred bidder by the second quarter and make a final decision by September. Although HD Hyundai and Hanwha had already submitted separate proposals in November 2023 before allying this year, industry insiders suggest that the Polish government might view their unified effort, which combines the strengths of both companies, as enhancing technological competitiveness. 'HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha had proposed 2,300-ton and 3,000-ton vessels, respectively, to Poland. This dual approach can address the various needs of the Polish government, increasing the likelihood of Korea securing the contract on a national level,' said a source on condition of anonymity. In February, HD Hyundai and Hanwha signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint team with the state-run Defense Acquisition Program Administration for ship export projects. Under this agreement, HD Hyundai will lead surface ship export initiatives, while Hanwha will focus on submarine exports, with each company supporting the other. In the following month, they submitted a proposal to secure a 20 billion won Canadian submarine project. The rival shipyards' belated partnership comes after Korea's unsuccessful bid for Australia's new frigate project last year. HD Hyundai and Hanwha pursued the project separately, only to lose to unified teams from Japan and Germany. DAPA reportedly mediated the ongoing feud between the two companies over the 8 trillion won next-generation Korean destroyer (KDDX) bid, urging collaboration to increase their chances of landing global export bids. Despite the Korean government's efforts, the shipbuilders maintain their competitive standoff on the Korean Navy's advanced warship development project. HD Hyundai, the primary contractor selected by DAPA for the basic design of the KDDX in 2020, faced a setback when Hanwha filed a police complaint in March, alleging that HD Hyundai executives were involved in leaking Hanwha's confidential materials related to the KDDX bid. In November, Hanwha withdrew the complaint, citing 'mutual support and cooperation' for the country's shipbuilding industry. However, the company did not retract its application for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's KDDX contractor designation process this year. While DAPA oversees the project, the industry ministry is in charge of officially designating the contractor. DAPA postponed the selection process multiple times, from April until after the presidential election. 'Although collaborating as a joint team for global exports is a reasonable strategy for both companies, with growing maritime security threats from North Korea, it is vital for the government to prioritize the rapid deployment of advanced warships like the KDDX,' the source said. 'The industry calls for swift and decisive action to achieve the fastest possible operations of those ships.'
SBS Australia
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Supporting both people with autism and the society, inclusive art exhibition at NSW Parliament House
Artist Bowman Yu (right) with his father DAPA's Vincent Yu at DAPA Inclusive Art Exhibition 2025 at the NSW Parliament House. Credit: SBS Listen to SBS Japanese Audio on Tue, Thu and Fri from 1pm on SBS 3. Replays from 10pm on Tue, Thu and Sat on SBS1. Listen to past stories from our podcast. Download the free SBS Audio App and don't forget to visit SBS Japanese Facebook and Instagram page!
