Korean Air signs agreement with L3Harris for airborne control system

Korean Air Lines Co. is collaborating with L3Harris International, an American aerospace contractor, to introduce the airborne control system for the Korean military.

Korean Air signed a comprehensive business cooperation agreement on airborne control systems at the Seoul office of L3Harris International in Jung-gu, Seoul on Monday.

The airborne control system, which the Korean military is trying to introduce, is a flying radar and command post and is also called an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system. It not only detects and analyzes major targets across the country but also commands and controls military operations in the air in real time.

L3Harris proposed to the Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration a model equipped with Israel Aerospace Industries' state-of-the-art radar on Bombardier's latest model, the Global 6500. It also promised a drastic price and maintenance cost discount compared to existing airborne control systems, and a full transfer of system integration technology.

With the latest agreement, Korean Air will participate in the overall process of remodeling and mass-producing parts for airborne control systems that are additionally procured after the military directly purchases them through L3Harris, as well as training for system operators, and production of instructional manuals.

An official from Korean Air said, "We will be able to learn the latest system integration skills from a global defense contractor through cooperation in the airborne control system area."

Write to Ik-Hwan Kim at lovepen@hankyung.com