Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.
LX Pantos completes complex defense logistics project for KAI
Marine attack helicopters / Courtesy of LX Pantos
By Lee Gyu-lee
LX Pantos, the logistics arm of LX Group, said Tuesday it has successfully completed a complex cross-border defense logistics project involving the transportation of air-to-air missiles from France to Korea for Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).
The project was part of KAI’s development program for the marine attack helicopter, a domestically developed helicopter system for the Republic of Korea Marine Corps led by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
The missiles, supplied by a European defense contractor, were transported from Chateauroux Airport in France to Incheon International Airport aboard a dedicated charter flight arranged by LX Pantos. They were then transported by road to their final destination at a Marine Corps unit in Pohang.
LX Pantos said the missiles were the sole cargo aboard the charter aircraft to meet stringent safety and security requirements. The shipment was classified as Class 1 explosives and was subject to strict security controls as defense material.
Air transportation of defense materials and other dangerous goods requires compliance with the International Air Transport Association’s Dangerous Goods Regulations and safety requirements imposed by national aviation authorities.
LX Pantos secured overflight clearances from 14 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia during the operation. The company also combined air and ground transportation and leveraged its global network, including its European subsidiaries, to complete the shipment safely.
The company has expanded its defense logistics business since receiving an “Excellent” rating in a security assessment by Korea’s Defense Counterintelligence Command in 2024. It has since built logistics experience with major Korean defense companies, including KAI, while strengthening its security capabilities.
LX Pantos has also attained Assessment Level 3, the highest level under the Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange, or TISAX, demonstrating its ability to meet stringent international information security requirements.
“We successfully completed a highly complex defense logistics project requiring advanced safety and security management capabilities as well as specialized logistics expertise,” an LX Pantos official said.
“We will continue to support leading Korean defense companies and expand our role as a logistics partner to the K-defense industry.”