L3Harris leaders and industry partners for the Republic of Korea and Airborne Early Warning and Control program. Photo by Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.
L3Harris and Korean Air hosted an industry day on Aug. 13 to provide support for the Republic of Korea’s AEW&C program and highlight its cooperative relationship with domestic defense companies, including Korean Air and LIG Nex1.
The event was attended by key officials; including Jason Lambert, President of L3Harris’ Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Sector, Michael Calderone, Bombardier Defense Vice President of Business Development and Asaf Sharvit, IAI/ELTA Systems Vice President & General Manager of Airborne Systems and Radar Division. The industry day was also attended by representatives from several Korean domestic defense industries including Jung Woo Park, Head of the Aerospace Business Division of Korean Air, Chan Ho Kook, Vice President & Head of C5ISR Division of LIG Nex1, Dr. Sunghun Jung, CTO & Vice President of R&D Center/New Business Strategy of Ace Antenna, Eun Joo Kim, CEO of Yonhap Precision and Jae Do Han, CEO of HAN-UL System, etc.
Lambert expressed the AEW&C team’s desire to expand collaboration with a range of large, medium and small domestic defense industries.
“If L3Harris’ Global 6500 AEW&C solution is selected, we will harness the power of strategic, domestic industrial collaboration to achieve our goal of Korean Made – Korean Operated – Korean Maintained,” said Lambert. “We are enthusiastic about fortifying local industry with new aircraft modification, mission system production, logistics, and maintenance, repair and establishment (MRO) capabilities to enhance the safety, security and overall well-being of the Republic of Korea.”
“We will secure the latest special mission aircraft modification, integration and maintenance technology in-country and contribute to expand the scope of domestic participation through cooperation with domestic subject matter experts with capabilities in various fields,” added Jung Woo Park, President of the Aerospace Business Division of Korean Air. “We also plan to contribute to continuous logistics support by securing an advanced MRO center for the Republic of Korea AEW&C program.”
Collaborators on the L3Harris Republic of Korea and Airborne Early Warning and Control program from left to right: Jason Lambert, President, ISR, L3Harris; Michael Calderone, VP, Business Development, Bombardier; Asaf Sharvit, IAI/ELTA Systems Vice President & General Manager of Airborne Systems and Radar Division; Jung Woo Park, Head of the Aerospace Business Division of Korean Air; Chan Ho Kook, Vice President & Head of C5ISR Division of LIG Nex1. Photo by Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.
The ROKAF AEW&C program, also known as the “command post in the sky,” is the ROK’s second overseas acquisition project. The total project budget is approximately 3 trillion won, with the offset value amounting to 1.5 trillion won, or half of the total program value.
Through research and development cooperation, manufacturing, and transfer of technology and knowledge, it is anticipated that Korea will grow its own capabilities and expand its business jet missionization capability, positioning the country for related job growth and creation worth of trillions of won. Furthermore, domestic companies will have an opportunity to participate in L3Harris' global supply chain.
U.S.-based defense contractor L3Harris has contributed to the development of South Korea's security and defense technology for more than 25 years, including a focus on aircraft missionization. L3Harris upgraded 16 ROK Navy Maritime Patrol Aircraft (P-3C and P-3CK) and the RC-800 Baekdu SIGINT aircraft program through collaboration with a domestic defense company. The company has a strong heritage in establishing domestic industrial cooperation and successful mission execution and is honored to support the ROK’s defense capabilities.
L3Harris provides comprehensive defense capabilities and best-in-class system integration development for special mission aircraft. The company delivers ISR, strike and various mission system capabilities for airborne, maritime, and land and has delivered more than 15,000 aircraft of 125 types with core capabilities for the past 70 years to multiple countries including the United States and NATO partners.
The company is also a leading integrator of missionized business jets with more 77 business jets under contract or delivered. In addition to AEW&C capabilities, its ROKAF team is focused on leveraging its expertise to bring additional capabilities to ROK, including the Stand-off Jamming, Maritime Patrol, ISTAR and complementary capabilities to serve the export market.
L3Harris’ ISR technical capabilities are proven and demonstrated through milestones and success of ongoing programs such as the U.S. Air Force's new EA-37B electronic warfare aircraft and the U.S. Army's next-generation Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare System (ARES) and Theater Level High-Altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne ISR Radar (ATHENA-R) systems, both of which are hosted on Bombardier Global series business jet platforms.
Collaborators on the L3Harris Republic of Korea and Airborne Early Warning and Control program from left to right: Chan Ho Kook, Vice President & Head of C5ISR Division of LIG Nex1; Jung Woo Park, Head of the Aerospace Business Division of Korean Air; Asaf Sharvit, IAI/ELTA Systems Vice President & General Manager of Airborne Systems; Michael Calderone, VP, Business Development, Bombardier; Jason Lambert, President, ISR, L3Harris. Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. photo.
