KAI Achieves Record-High Q1 Revenue Driven by KF-21 and Complete Aircraft Exports

Revenue Reaches 1.0927 Trillion Won, Operating Profit Hits 67.1 Billion Won

"Record-High Results Expected This Year"

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) recorded its highest-ever quarterly revenue in the first quarter of this year. The company's profitability improved thanks to balanced growth across domestic system development projects, complete aircraft exports, and the aircraft parts business.

Main building of Korea Aerospace Industries. Korea Aerospace Industries

KAI announced on the 7th that its consolidated revenue for the first quarter of this year reached 1.0927 trillion won, representing a 56.3% increase compared to the same period last year.

During the same period, operating profit rose by 43.4% to 67.1 billion won, while net profit increased by 41.7% to 41.3 billion won.

Order performance also improved. By expanding both domestic and overseas operations in follow-up project areas—such as communications equipment performance upgrades and FA-50PH PBL—orders increased by 29.4% year-on-year to 309.3 billion won.

KAI attributed these results to the performance of various business platforms, including the stable execution of domestic projects, expansion of overseas business, and achievements in future business sectors.

As of the end of March, KAI held a rollout ceremony for the first mass-produced unit of the next-generation Korean fighter jet KF-21, and is currently pursuing domestic system development projects including the MAH amphibious assault helicopter and the MCH mine countermeasure helicopter, both scheduled for completion this year.

Exports of complete aircraft, including the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) and FA-50GF repayment aircraft, surged 79.5% year-on-year to 307.1 billion won. Overseas business continued its stable growth, as reflected in the delivery of two T-50i aircraft to Indonesia and revenue recognition from FA-50M (Malaysia) and FA-50PL (Poland) based on their progress.

With the recovery of the commercial aircraft market, the aircraft parts business saw a 11.6% increase year-on-year to 222.8 billion won. The satellite sector, which is being highlighted as a future business, also posted revenue of 10.4 billion won.

A KAI official stated, "We achieved double-digit growth in both revenue and operating profit from the first quarter, marking a strong first step toward reaching our annual revenue guidance of 5.7 trillion won set at the beginning of the year. This year, we expect to achieve record-high results not only through the deployment of the KF-21 to our Air Force, but also through deliveries of the T-50i to Indonesia and the FA-50M to Malaysia."

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