LIG Nex1 Unveils AESA Radar for Next-Generation Fighter Jets

FA-50 AESA Radar Prototype at Air Force Civil-Military Cooperation Exercise

Military Power Increased 3-4 Times, Enhancing 'K-Defense' Competitiveness in the Global Market

LIG Nex1 (CEO Kim Ji-chan) has unveiled a new radar for next-generation fighter jets that multiplies combat power several times.

LIG Nex1 announced on the 3rd that it participated in the ‘2023 Air Force Civil-Military Cooperation Seminar/Exhibition (AEROSPACE CONFERENCE 2023)’ held at Daejeon Convention Center (DCC) on the 2nd and revealed the FA-50 AESA radar prototype.

The product showcased by LIG Nex1 at this exhibition is the first domestically developed air-cooled AESA radar for fighter jets. It is known to be superior in many aspects such as ‘simultaneous detection and tracking of multiple targets’ and ‘simultaneous tracking of air and ground targets’ compared to the mechanically scanned array (MSA) radar currently installed on the FA-50.

It has multiple operational modes to respond to air, ground, and sea targets, and achieves miniaturization and weight reduction by applying transmit/receive modules using GaN (gallium nitride) devices.

FA-50 AESA radar prototype.

AESA radar is an essential core sensor equipped on next-generation fighter jets, and generally, fighters equipped with AESA radar are known to have 3 to 4 times the combat power of those equipped with MSA radar.

The AESA radar for fighter jets has been dominated by a few advanced overseas defense companies that have established entry barriers using E/L (Export License) and other means. If the domestically produced AESA radar is installed on the FA-50 following the KF-21, it is expected not only to enhance the combat power of our military but also to boost the competitiveness of the domestic defense industry and secure export competitiveness in the global market.

LIG Nex1 successfully conducted two core technology application research projects related to fighter jet AESA radar (2006?2013) and two test development projects (2014?2021) with a government budget of about 85 billion KRW under the supervision of the Agency for Defense Development. Additionally, through company self-investment (2021?2023) and collaboration with Korea Aerospace Industries, the FA-50 AESA radar prototype was completed.

Kim Ji-chan, CEO of LIG Nex1, said, “There are still difficult tasks remaining for verification such as flight tests to achieve the final goal,” and added, “We will achieve the ‘true domestic production of the FA-50’ through future civil-government-military cooperation and support.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.