"From R&D to Public Procurement"... Calls for a Paradigm Shift in the Aerospace Industry

KAI Calls for Support in Commercial Aircraft Joint Development
Government: "Golden Window, Institutional Backing Promised"

There have been calls from industry stakeholders to shift the growth axis of the aerospace industry from a focus on research and development (R&D) to public procurement. The need for comprehensive government support for participation in international joint development of commercial aircraft was also highlighted.

On April 24, the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) announced that Kyungwon Noh, Deputy Director of KASA, visited Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, Gyeongnam, where he held a meeting with company executives to discuss strategies for fostering the industry. The meeting was also attended by Juhan Lee, Presidential Secretary for Science and Technology Research, who inspected the production site and encouraged frontline employees.

Reference photo to aid article understanding. Kyungwon Noh, Deputy Director of Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA). Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

The previous day, Secretary Lee had visited KASA, and on this day, he inspected the production of the KF-21, a Korean fighter jet that has entered full-scale mass production at KAI, as well as the Surion, a domestically developed utility helicopter that has been deployed in more than 200 units in Korea and has completed performance verification.

During the meeting, KAI executives emphasized the need for a structural transformation of the industry. They argued that the space development sector should shift from an R&D-centered approach to one focused on public procurement in order to create a viable market. They also proposed that comprehensive government policy support is necessary to enable participation in international joint development projects for commercial aircraft.

The government expressed its commitment to providing institutional support for the industry's demands. Secretary Lee stated, "The aerospace industry is a key strategic sector that will determine the nation's future, and now is the golden window to secure long-term competitiveness. We will establish an institutional foundation to ensure that on-site voices are reflected in policy."

Deputy Director Noh also made clear his intention to reflect these policies. He emphasized, "We will actively incorporate the issues raised in the field into industrial development policies, shift the support paradigm, and implement practical institutional improvements so that Korea can emerge as a global hub for the aerospace industry."

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