LIG Nex1 and Netherlands Aerospace Centre to Conduct Flight Test of Air-Cooled Radar

First Domestically Developed Air-Cooled AESA Radar for FA-50 Aircraft

Ready for Immediate Installation on Export FA-50 After Testing, Boosting Overseas Expansion and Military Capability

LIG Nex1 (CEO Shin Ikhyun) and the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR, CEO Michel Peters) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation on the 'FA-50 Air-Cooled AESA Radar Flight Test.'

Once the flight test is completed, the immediate installation of the FA-50 air-cooled AESA radar, the first of its kind developed domestically, will become possible, significantly enhancing export competitiveness.

The MOU signing ceremony between the two companies took place on the 23rd local time at Farnborough Airshow 2024 (7.22~26) in the UK, with key representatives in attendance, including LIG Nex1 CEO Shin Ikhyun, Head of Future Battlefield Business Division Choi Jongjin, NLR CEO Michel Peters, and Director of Business Development Aerospace Systems Fouad Gaddur.

LIG Nex1 is signing an 'FA-50 Air-Cooled AESA Flight Test MOU' with the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) at the UK Farnborough Airshow 2024. Shin Ikhyun, CEO of LIG Nex1 (left at the table), and Michel Peeters, CEO of NLR (right at the table), are signing the MOU document.

NLR, established in 1919, is a state-owned defense industry institution that has collaborated with the Royal Netherlands Air Force for over 100 years, specializing in aerospace research and development, as well as various maintenance and test evaluations. Through this agreement, LIG Nex1 and NLR plan to conduct flight tests of the FA-50 air-cooled AESA radar, 'ESR-500A.'

'ESR-500A' is the product name of the FA-50 air-cooled AESA radar. Since 2021, LIG Nex1 has collaborated with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to complete the development of the first domestically produced air-cooled AESA radar for the FA-50. The ESR-500A was first unveiled at the 2023 Air Force Civil-Military Cooperation Exhibition and Seminar and at ADEX 2023.

AESA radars generate significant heat and therefore require cooling equipment. Until now, AESA radars have used water cooling methods, which, while large and heavy, offer high cooling efficiency. The air cooling method developed independently by LIG Nex1 dramatically reduces both size and weight, making it optimal for light attack aircraft such as the FA-50.

The air-cooled AESA radar for the FA-50 by LIG Nex1 exhibited at ADEX 2023.

Once the flight test with NLR is completed, the air-cooled AESA radar can be immediately installed on export versions of the FA-50. This is expected to expand the global market for aircraft AESA radars and enhance export competitiveness. Furthermore, applying this technology to domestic FA-50 performance upgrades (MLU, Mid-Life Upgrade) is expected to contribute to strengthening military capabilities.

Shin Ikhyun, CEO of LIG Nex1, stated, "We plan to demonstrate the excellent performance of our air-cooled AESA radar for light attack aircraft," and emphasized, "We are committed to contributing to the true localization of the FA-50 through the localization of aircraft weapon systems."

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