Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), an aircraft manufacturer in South Korea, said on Sunday (04) that it plans to develop its own multi-mission transport plane for the country's armed forces.
According to Yonhap News Agency, if developed, the plane would carry out several missions such as maritime patrol and reconnaissance, since it would share the same platform as a medium-sized aircraft.
Ryu Kwang-su, executive vice president of KAI, told a press conference that the manufacturer reached a consensus with the Defense Acquisition Program istration on the need to develop multi-mission transport aircraft to meet the domestic demand for aircraft of this type.
“Currently, there are 30 multi-purpose planes and 70 transport planes operated by the Army, Navy and Air Force. Our goal is to replace imported aircraft with domestically developed aircraft and move into the foreign market with our own aircraft in the long term.”
Currently, the Republic of Korea Air Force has C-130, CN-235 and DO NOT MRTT in your fleet.
The manufacturer that must present its first fifth generation fighter this month it also seeks business opportunities in the areas of urban air mobility, personal air vehicles for civil and military purposes and electrified aircraft, said the executive.
KAI has yet to decide on the type of engine for an electric aircraft, and aims to develop a prototype electric plane by 2029. Ryu also says that the company could partner with “a local company” in the future mobility business.
In addition to these projects, the South Korean manufacturer is working on exporting the T-50 advanced trainer and light attack jet and the KUH-1 Surion utility helicopter, with a focus on emerging countries.
KAI also manufactured wing and fuselage parts for Boeing and Airbus enger planes, a scenario that changed dramatically with the COVID-19 pandemic, projecting that the two manufacturers will place new orders from the second half of 2022, as more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be istered worldwide.
As for capital expenditures, the company said it will spend $1,9 billion on facilities, research and development activities and investments in companies with advanced technologies over five years through 2025.
