German IRIS-T air-to-air missile to be integrated into Korean FA-50 and KF-21 Boramae fighters

Germany’s Diehl Defence and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), manufacturer of the FA-50 series and the KF-21 fighter aircraft, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the purpose of intensifying their integration and commercialization efforts, addressing the potential of the IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missile on FA-50 and KF-21 aircrafts.

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The subject of the agreement is the joint objective of integrating the IRIS-T missile on FA-50/T-50 and KF-21 Block II fighters. This confirms the intention of both companies to investigate the potential for cooperation, as already announced in a previous agreement, signed during ADEX 2021.

In addition, the MoU covers working group collaboration on commercialization efforts for KAI aircraft equipped with Diehl Defence missiles. Finally, both companies agree to investigate the possibility of modifying or further developing Diehl Defence missile systems for Korea’s indigenous aircraft programs.

The companies announce the consolidation of their cooperation on the eve of the Singapore Air Show, which will take place this week as Asia’s largest aerospace and defense trade event this year.

Diehl Defence and KAI have been working together for several years now, combining Diehl Defence’s expertise and capabilities in the field of missile systems development, production and integration with KAI’s track record in successfully launching and managing military aircraft programs. The collaboration began in 2017 with the start of IRIS-T integration on the KF-21 Block I fighter.

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European missiles to improve attractiveness of South Korean aircraft

KAI is strengthening cooperation with European missile companies to expand the armament capabilities of fighters such as the KF-21 «Boramae» and FA-50, particularly with an eye on the European and African markets.

In November last year, a memorandum of understanding was signed with MBDA for the integration of the next-generation Meteor long-range air-to-air missile on the KF-21. System integration and armament separation tests of the Meteor and IRIS-T (AIM-2000, as it is called in South Korea) missiles were successfully completed on KF-21 prototypes between March and April last year.