LIG防务与KAI深化Airbus无人机和旋翼机合作，未披露金额

Korean defense firms are stepping up development of next-generation aviation systems by strengthening cooperation with global aerospace group Airbus.
LIG Defense & Aerospace (079550) (LIG D&A) said on the 21st that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Airbus Helicopters, the Airbus Group's rotorcraft affiliate, to cooperate on developing next-generation unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology. The agreement was reached at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, the world's largest aerospace and defense exhibition, held in the United Kingdom on the 20th.
LIG D&A CEO Shin Ik-hyun and Airbus Helicopters CEO Mathieu Louvot attended the signing ceremony.
The two companies will combine their respective capabilities to develop multi-role, high-performance aviation solutions that meet changing defense requirements. The core of the cooperation is to integrate advanced sensors and weapons systems developed by LIG D&A into Airbus's latest UAS platforms. The two firms plan to jointly research mission-tailored solutions to strengthen intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
In addition, the two companies plan to apply advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), across unmanned aircraft and ground control stations through joint technical research aimed at improving overall UAS performance, and to seek ways to increase mission endurance and operational efficiency.
Earlier, Korea Aerospace Industries (047810) (KAI) has also been strengthening its partnership with Airbus Helicopters. On the 17th, KAI held an event marking the 20th anniversary of cooperation between the two companies at Airbus Helicopters' headquarters in Marignane, France. KAI CEO Kim Jong-chul and Louvot, along with other executives from both companies, attended the event.
The two companies signed a joint statement to continue discussions on future cooperation. Since beginning technical cooperation on the development of the Surion (KUH-1) system in 2006, the two firms have continuously strengthened their partnership in the rotorcraft field over the past 20 years.
The development of the Surion and the Miron (LAH) has proceeded as planned, and after expanding into various military and government variants such as firefighting, police and medical evacuation, development of the Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH) has now entered its final stage.
The two companies shared their cooperation achievements to date and sought to strengthen rotorcraft business cooperation around two pillars: supply chain stabilization and future business cooperation. They also agreed to establish a comprehensive cooperation framework, including next-generation future technology development, to respond to the rapidly changing civil and defense rotorcraft markets.
KAI and Airbus Helicopters plan first to optimize the technical support services and parts supply system needed for operating the Surion and Miron in order to stabilize the supply chain. They plan to expand parts supply capabilities to secure high aircraft availability and maintenance stability.
They will also expand the scope of cooperation into next-generation rotorcraft technology to jointly respond to the demands of future battlefields and the evolving air mobility ecosystem. Through this, they plan to seek new cooperation opportunities in areas such as unmanned aircraft systems and manned-unmanned teaming technology.