Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will participate in the Defense & Security (D&S) 2025 exhibition held in Bangkok, Thailand, from November 10 to 13 (local time). The company will promote export expansion in Southeast Asia, a region considered a vital hub for Korea’s defense industry.
D&S has been held biennially since 2003 as the flagship international defense exhibition for the ASEAN region. This year’s event is expected to host over 480 companies and 400 official delegations from 35 countries, including South Korea.
At the exhibition, KAI will showcase its main aircraft models, including the KF-21, FA-50, LAH, and KUH, highlighting a diverse lineup of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Additionally, KAI will present cutting-edge unmanned combined systems that symbolize the core of future combat zones, emphasizing the company’s technological prowess and future growth potential partnerships.
Building on existing operations in four Southeast Asian countries, KAI plans to further develop follow-up support projects, strengthen operational and maintenance collaborations, and boost business promotion based on trust and high operational efficiency.
KAI also aims to promote its capabilities in areas beyond fixed-wing aircraft, including the KUH helicopter, AAV (amphibious assault vehicles), and space technology, while seeking potential partners and future business opportunities.
To date, KAI has exported a total of 98 aircraft to Southeast Asia, including 78 T-50 series aircraft (22 to Indonesia, 24 to the Philippines, 14 to Thailand, and 18 to Malaysia) and 20 KT-1 trainers (all to Indonesia). These efforts have played a pivotal role in advancing Korea’s defense export industry.
Joo Rae Cho, Executive Director of KAI’s Export Marketing Department, stated, “Southeast Asia, including Thailand, is a core market that proves the global competitiveness of our indigenous aircraft such as the KT-1 and T-50 series. We will also expand future business areas like unmanned systems and strengthen partnerships with ASEAN countries to grow the market further.”
