South Korea to Enhance Air Defense with New AEW&C Aircraft
In a significant move to bolster its air surveillance capabilities, South Korea has announced that its forthcoming airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft will be developed using Bombardier’s Global 6500 airframe. L3Harris Technologies has been appointed as the lead integrator for this project.
The selection was formally announced on September 30, with confirmation from L3Harris Technologies that the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) had chosen their Phoenix AEW&C platform. A contract for this initiative is anticipated to be signed by November.
An L3Harris spokesperson stated, “This project is expected to enhance the Republic of Korea Armed Forces’ ability to maintain continuous and comprehensive air surveillance and control capabilities in response to growing aerial threats.”
A budget allocation of KRW3.1 trillion ($2.2 billion) has been set aside for the project, which is scheduled to conclude by 2032, for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF).
Although L3Harris Technologies has not disclosed specific details about the Phoenix AEW platform, it was previously mentioned that the first two aircraft will undergo modifications in Texas, followed by radar integration in Israel. The radar system, Elta’s ELW-2085, offers 360° coverage and has been previously used in Israeli and Italian Gulfstream G550 AEW aircraft.
Work on the remaining two aircraft will be led by Korean Air within South Korea, and they will also manage sustainment efforts.
The spokesperson also noted, “Through L3Harris’ agreements with Korean Air, LIG Nex1, and Ace Antenna, and ongoing discussions with additional Korean partners, the team intends that the aircraft and mission system equipment will be fully supported in Korea.”
The Phoenix platform prevailed over two competitors: Boeing’s E-7A and Saab’s GlobalEye. Although the ROKAF had previously acquired four E-737 Peace Eye AEW aircraft, it opted not to purchase the similar E-7A model, which the U.S. Air Force has also recently bypassed.
Saab’s proposal utilized the same Global 6500 airframe but featured the Swedish company’s Erieye-ER radar, with Korea Aerospace Industries acting as the local partner. However, L3Harris outperformed in operational suitability, operating costs, and collaboration with local defense firms, as per DAPA evaluations. The company claims potential operational availability rates exceeding 95%.
While Saab’s offer scored favorably in contract conditions and acquisition costs, L3Harris achieved the highest aggregate score overall, according to DAPA.
