Korea Aerospace to upgrade KF-16 simulators under ties with Lockheed Martin
A KF-16 fighter jet takes off from Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Nov. 3. Courtesy of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer, said Monday it has been selected by U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin as a partner to upgrade simulators for the Air Force's KF-16 fighter jets.
KAI will upgrade nine KF-16 simulators previously delivered to the Air Force to the configuration of the latest F-16 Viper under a six-year contract, the Korean company said in a release.
"Based on our strategic relationship with Lockheed Martin, we will contribute to modernizing the Korean Air Force's training system and improving safety," a KAI official said.
In June, KAI signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Lockheed Martin to expand their strategic partnership into emerging areas of the global defense and aerospace industries.
KAI and Lockheed Martin have maintained a longstanding partnership that began with the licensed production of the F-16 fighter jet in the 1990s and later led to the co-development of the T-50 supersonic trainer aircraft.