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‘Seoul ADEX 2023,’ the largest aerospace and defense industry exhibition in Korea, will open on the 17th at Seoul Airport located in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Held biennially, this year marks the 14th Seoul ADEX, which is the largest ever in terms of participating companies, exhibition area, and visitors.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

There are 550 participating companies with 2,320 exhibition booths set up over an area of 250,000㎡. It is expected that 300,000 visitors will attend. The foreign delegations are also the largest ever, with representatives from 55 countries totaling 114 people. Defense ministers from nine countries including Malaysia, Australia, and Iraq, as well as air force chiefs from 14 countries, will attend.

The number of exhibited equipment has increased from about 60 to over 100 types. Exhibits include Korean military fighter jets such as the KF-21, F-35A (stealth), F-15K, and FA-50, as well as U.S. military aircraft like the F-22, considered the world’s most powerful stealth fighter, the advanced electronic warfare aircraft EA-18G Growler, and the U-2.

This event coincides with the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance, featuring many key U.S. military air assets such as the F-22 stealth fighter ‘Raptor’ and the MQ-1C unmanned attack aircraft ‘Gray Eagle.’ Notably, the EA-18G Growler, regarded as the world’s top electronic warfare aircraft, will be exhibited domestically for the first time. The Growler, operated by the U.S., is a two-seat electronic warfare attack aircraft based on the F/A-18F Super Hornet, capable of jamming or destroying enemy radar.

The Republic of Korea Air Force’s special flight team Black Eagles and the Australian aerobatic team will perform flights to celebrate the opening of Seoul ADEX. A ‘Korea-U.S. Combined Air Power Celebration Flight’ will follow, led by the domestically produced KF-21. The KF-21 will lead the flight, showcasing test flights by Korea-U.S. air power including the F-22, F-16, T-50, and U-2.

The U.S. strategic bomber B-52 ‘Stratofortress’ will fly over Seoul Airport twice during the event period, including the opening ceremony, which runs until the 22nd. The B-52 will land at a Korean Air Force base during Seoul ADEX. Although the B-52, a U.S. strategic asset capable of carrying nuclear weapons, has frequently conducted joint training with the Korean Air Force over the Korean Peninsula, this is the first time it will land at a domestic air base. The U.S. stealth strategic bomber B-1B ‘Lancer’ is also expected to participate in ADEX. There is a possibility that the B-1B will fly over Seoul Airport or appear in the outdoor exhibition area like the B-52.

The opening ceremony will be held in the morning with attendance from government officials including Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and foreign delegations.

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