Korean Air, L3Harris to collaborate on surveillance for Air Force

Korean Air met with L3Harris Technologies to collaborate on strengthening Korea's Air Force surveillance capabilities, aiming to integrate advanced radar systems into additional aircraft by 2031.

Park Jung-woo second from right, senior vice president of Korean Air's aerospace business division, and other attendees pose for a photo at an aerospace industry meeting organized together with U.S. defense firm L3Harris Technologies in Seoul on Aug. 13, 2024, in this photo provided by Korean Air. [KOREAN AIR]

Korean Air met U.S. defense firm L3Harris Technologies to discuss collaborating to strengthen the surveillance capabilities of Korea's Air Force.

Park Jung-woo, senior vice president of Korean Air's aerospace business division; Jason Lambert, president of L3Harris Intelligence; and representatives from 30 domestic and international defense firms attended the meeting in Seoul on Tuesday, Korean Air said Wednesday.

The Air Force aims to acquire additional Airborne Early Warning & Control systems to enhance its surveillance capabilities. Currently, the Air Force operates four Boeing E-737 Peace Eye airborne control aircraft. A second phase of the project is under way to procure additional aircraft by 2031.

L3Harris has proposed a solution for the second phase, which entails integrating Bombardier Defense's Global 6500 aircraft with Israel Aerospace Industries' state-of-the-art radar systems.

Korean Air plans to contribute to aircraft modification, parts manufacturing and operational training under a 2022 cooperation agreement with L3Harris,

The project is expected to provide the domestic defense industry with opportunities for technology transfer, enhancing indigenous capabilities and facilitating integration into global supply chains, Korean Air said.

“This strategic collaboration will enable Korean Air to acquire and develop cutting-edge technologies in the modification, systems integration and comprehensive maintenance of advanced special mission aircraft,” Park said.

Park added that Korean Air is “dedicated to cultivating strategic alliances within the defense industry and bolstering the entire aerospace aftermarket value chain.”

Yonhap