Tel Aviv, Israel: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has been awarded two contracts in the Republic of South Korea (ROK) to supply radar systems for fighter jets and advanced radar systems for air defense. The multi-year contracts are valued at $280 million.
In one contract, IAI’s group and wholly-owned subsidiary, ELTA Systems Ltd., will develop and supply the EL/M 2032 Multimode Fire Control Radar system for the ROK’s FA/TA-50 training jet. The radar was chosen by the customer for its advanced system compared to other competitors.
The radar enhances a fighter jet’s air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea capabilities, enabling long-range target detection and high-resolution mapping, among other features. The TA/FA-50 aircraft is being developed in the ROK by Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI), and will become operational with the radar system, which is co-produced with the Korean company LIG Nex1.
In the second contract, IAI will supply an advanced air defense system, also produced by IAI’s ELTA Systems Ltd. This system joins ROK’s air defense capabilities.
According to the official ROK news release, the IAI-made air defense radar system was chosen for its performance and cost-effectiveness compared with the competition, and will become operational in the ROK Army in 2012.
Itzhak Nissan, IAI President and CEO and Chairman of the Board of ELTA, said: “I am pleased that such distinguished customers as the ROK Ministry of Defense and ROK defense companies have chosen to purchase these important, prestigious systems from IAI. These contracts place IAI squarely at the forefront of the worldwide radar systems field.”
Nissim Hadas, IAI Corporate VP and President of ELTA, said that “ELTA supplies the most advanced technological products for strategic and other uses, to the Israeli Ministry of Defense and to international customers. These significant contracts were signed following intense competition from other leading international industries, further demonstrating ELTA’s unique position among its global peer industries and placing it at the top of its class.”
