Korean Air-L3Harris Consortium Wins Second Phase of "Flying Command Center" AEW&C Project
Military to Receive Four AEW&C Aircraft by 2032
Korean Air announced on October 20 that the Korean Air-L3Harris consortium was selected at the end of last month as the contractor for the Defense Acquisition Program Administration's second phase of the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) project. The AEW&C aircraft, equipped with high-performance radar, is regarded as a "flying radar and command center," serving as a key aerial asset. It detects and analyzes major targets across the entire country and performs real-time command and control of military operations from the air.
The main contractor, U.S. defense company L3Harris, will collaborate with Korean Air and Israel's IAI ELTA to supply four AEW&C aircraft, as requested by the Republic of Korea Air Force, by 2032.
As the domestic partner, Korean Air will purchase four Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft, which will serve as the base airframes, and deliver them to L3Harris. Korean Air will jointly develop the first and second aircraft and locally modify the third and fourth aircraft. Including the electronic warfare aircraft project, a total of six aircraft will be procured.
The high-altitude, long-range business jets, modified for airborne control missions, will utilize state-of-the-art radar technology based on artificial intelligence (AI) to support airborne battle management. These aircraft will defend the airspace by flying higher, faster, and for longer durations, while maintaining lower operational costs.
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A Korean Air official stated, "Through this AEW&C project, we will secure advanced modification, integration, and maintenance technologies for next-generation special mission aircraft. As a leading company in the domestic aviation industry, we are committed to establishing a robust industrial base for large-scale special mission aircraft to strengthen national defense capabilities."
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