News
Korean-Type Electronic Warfare Aircraft R&D, LIG Nex1 to Lead Participation Efforts
2025.08.19
· Mobilizing all corporate resources to secure national-level electronic warfare aircraft R&D contracts
· Leveraging 47 years of accumulated technological expertise with the Agency for Defense Development
· Platforms may be imported, but mission equipment must continue to be developed domestically
LIG Nex1 (CEO Shin Ick-hyun) announced the company’s plan to participate as the system integrator in the Korean-type electronic warfare aircraft R&D project.
For this project, which involves the government investing 1.7775 trillion won and domestic companies conducting the R&D, LIG Nex1 emphasized,
“Based on the electronic warfare technology accumulated over 47 years in collaboration with the Agency for Defense Development,
we will lead the research and development of the Korean-type electronic warfare aircraft.”
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has been conducting bidding procedures since the 15th of last month for the “Korean Electronic Warfare Aircraft Research and Development Project.”
The project aims to secure an electronic warfare aircraft that is equipped with mission systems capable of conducting electronic warfare,
enabling it to collect and analyze threat signals from neighboring countries.
In wartime, it will paralyze and disrupt enemy air defense networks and wireless command and control systems through electronic attacks (jamming).
Electronic warfare aircraft are deployed at the outset of military operations to blind and deafen enemies, enabling combat while enhancing the survivability and operational effectiveness of allies.
This makes them a critical military power on the modern battlefield.
DAPA reviewed and approved the project's basic implementation strategy at the Defense Acquisition Program Promotion Committee in 2023 and the basic system development plan in June this year.
The development of South Korea's electronic warfare technology was spearheaded by the Agency for Defense Development.
Starting with the localization of foreign equipment in the 1970s to develop electronic warfare equipment for naval vessels,
the agency completed the development of electronic warfare equipment for aircraft in the early 1990s.
Later on, it succeeded in localizing core technologies, including electronic detection/identification algorithm development, digital jamming technology,
active jamming equipment technology, radar jamming/deception technology, and high-speed processing technology for jamming systems.
LIG Nex1 has developed electronic warfare weapon systems for land, air, and sea domains through core electronic warfare technologies
accumulated over 47 years in collaboration with the Agency for Defense Development.
This includes a land-based EW system for the Army, a shipborne EW system known as the K-Electronic Shield, and, notably,
the nation's first fighter aircraft electronic warfare system (the ALQ-200) for airborne platforms.
The company is now on the verge of developing a SIGINT system for air platforms as well as integrated electronic warfare equipment for the KF-21 fighter jet. Furthermore, beyond the domestic market,
LIG Nex1 has secured international orders by demonstrating technological superiority over major global electronic warfare companies.
This includes the 2023 Malaysian FA-50 RWR contract and the 2024 comprehensive solution contract for Peruvian naval vessels.
The current electronic warfare aircraft project involves modifying foreign-made medium-sized commercial aircraft to carry electronic warfare mission equipment.
The choice of foreign commercial aircraft was followed by considerations of optimized altitude, speed, and operational endurance required for Air Force missions.
LIG Nex1, which possesses outstanding electronic warfare technology, has partnered with Korean Air, a company with a strong track record of modifying military aircraft in Korea.
An LIG Nex1 official emphasized, “The core of electronic warfare aircraft lies in the capability to continuously collect and analyze threat signals from neighboring countries and,
based on this, conduct electronic attacks during wartime.”
Also, “Localizing mission equipment is essential, not only to accumulate data on the characteristics of signals from neighboring countries, but also to enable continuous upgrades to equipment and software.”
The official further stated, “LIG Nex1 can also achieve the domestic production rate required for the electronic warfare aircraft development project,” adding,
“We can deliver the performance required by the military at any time.”