LiG Nex1 wins electronic warfare aircraft, missile contracts

Korean Air displayed a concept model of its proposed EW Block I aircraft during Seoul ADEX 2025 in October. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)

South Korea's LIG Nex1 has won contracts to develop an electronic warfare (EW) aircraft for the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) as well as systems for the country's short-range air-to-air missile-II (SRAAM-II) programme.

The deals were revealed by LIG Nex1's filings to the Korea Exchange's securities market on 24 December. The filings specify a KRW1.56 trillion (USD1 billion) contract from South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to LIG Nex1 to develop the EW Block I aircraft.

Separately, under a KRW124.2 billion (USD86 million) contract from South Korea's Agency for Defense Development (ADD), LIG Nex1 is to develop and integrate systems on SRAAM-II prototypes. This contract, which became effective on 24 December, will conclude on 30 November 2032, according to LIG Nex1.

The SRAAM-II is being developed to provide the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 ‘Boramae' fighter aircraft with a short-range infrared (IR) homing air-to-air capability. Janes has previously reported that the SRAAM-II will have capabilities similar to the Raytheon AIM-9X and Diehl Defence's IRIS-T air-to-air missiles.

LIG Nex1's involvement in South Korea's EW Block I aircraft programme is in collaboration with Korean Air. Bombardier will provide Global 6500 business jets for the programme. According to LIG Nex1's filing, it is to complete EW systems development for the programme by 30 June 2034.

Janes understands that the consortium was selected to develop the EW Block I aircraft programme in October. The programme calls for four new aircraft to be developed and employed as “stand-off jammer aircraft”, similar to the US Air Force's (USAF's) new EA-37B ‘Compass Call' aircraft.

Janes