KAI targeting South American military aircraft market

Han Eun-soo, right, vice president and director of KAI’s Satellite Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Project, explains a multi-purpose satellite to Chilean Deputy Defense Minister Paulina Vodanovic Rojas, second from left, during FIDAE in Santiago, Chile, Tuesday. / Courtesy of KAI

By Jun Ji-hye

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is speeding up efforts to expand its presence in South America’s rapidly growing military aircraft market, worth 11 trillion won ($9.6 billion).

Toward that end, the nation’s sole aircraft maker is participating in an international aerospace and defense exhibition held at the International Airport in Santiago, Chile, known as FIDAE, according to the company.

During the exhibition, which kicked off Tuesday and will run until Sunday, KAI CEO Ha Sung-yong and other ranking officials met with military officials of South American countries and discussed additional exports of its military aircraft ranging from the KT-1 basic trainer jets to the T-50 supersonic trainer and the Surion utility helicopter.

In November 2012, Korea signed a $200 million deal to export 20 KT-1P jets, whose delivery will be completed this year.

KAI said in its release that the KT-1Ps, jointly manufactured by KAI and the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) Maintenance Service Department in Peru, are drawing keen attention during the exhibition, noting that FAP pilots conducted test flights of the two KT-1Ps there.

The Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province-based company said it is planning to utilize a production base at Las Palmas Air Base in Lima, at which the firm and FAP jointly assembled the KT-1Ps, to expand its exports to the South American market.

KAI is also making efforts to pave the way for exporting its Surion helicopters, the company added.

Some 600 defense firms from 40 countries are participating in the international exhibition, with visitors estimated at about 150,000.

“Our participation in the exhibition will be a good chance to promote the nation’s aerospace technologies to the South American market,” a company official said.

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