KAI partners with Polish defense companies to service fighter jets

Korea Aerospace Industries has partnered with two Polish defense companies to establish a support system for the maintenance of the FA-50 fighter jets it has exported to the country.

This photo provided by Korea Aerospace Industries Co. shows the company's memorandum of understanding signing ceremony held with Polish defense firm WZL-2 in Warsaw on Dec. 11, 2023. [KOREA AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES]

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has partnered with two Polish defense companies in order to establish a support system for maintenance and related services for its exported FA-50 fighter jets.

KAI said Thursday that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with WZL-2 and WCBKT, subsidiaries of Poland's state-owned defense group PGZ, to establish the support system in Warsaw on Monday.

In July 2022, KAI signed a $3 billion deal with Poland to export 48 FA-50s to the European country.

The Korean company said it has established a framework for stable follow-up support of the FA-50 jets it will export to Poland, and will provide that service over their life cycle of 30 to 40 years.

The company will work on establishing the maintenance, repair and overhaul system with WZL-2 and set up a performance-based logistics system for sustainable military support.

KAI said it will work with WCBKT on the development and procurement of support equipment related to the FA-50.

BY PARK EUN-JEE, YONHAP [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]