Unlocking New Horizons: Lockheed Martin and KAI Strengthen Their Strategic Partnership

Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) established a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the 2025 Paris Air Show on June 17, to enhance their existing partnership on aviation systems to encompass rotorcraft production and next-generation platform advancement, space technologies, crewed-uncrewed collaboration, unmanned aerial vehicles, training apparatus, and sustainment.

The MoU, endorsed by Lockheed Martin’s Chief Operating Officer Frank St. John and KAI’s President & CEO Goo-young Kang, builds upon a longstanding alliance exceeding three decades, commencing with the licensed manufacturing of the F-16 and progressing to include the T-50 supersonic advanced trainer, FA-50 light attack platform, KF-21 multirole fighter, and logistics support.

“The enhancement of our partnership with KAI underscores our dedication to bolstering global security by collaborating with U.S. allies to devise, produce, and maintain 21st-century deterrence solutions,” remarked Frank St. John, the chief operating officer of Lockheed Martin. “By merging the finest skills, expertise, and technologies from the United States and Korea, we aspire to elevate capabilities, preserve jobs, and generate economic advantages in both nations.

KAI maintains a strong and enduring alliance with Lockheed Martin, a prominent global defense enterprise for the past 30 years through joint initiatives, technical collaboration, and industrial association. The extension of our partnership with Lockheed Martin will further fortify our engagement in the current aircraft and fighter sectors, including the U.S. and international allies,” stated Goo-young Kang, President and CEO of KAI.

“We are already collaborating effectively on numerous initiatives and eagerly anticipate working alongside the Lockheed Martin team to advance concepts with innovative technologies in rotorcraft, crewed-uncrewed collaboration, autonomy, and unmanned aerial vehicles. This will contribute to the sustainable enhancement of our military clients’ capabilities and partners, including potential local value generation.”

The organizations have commenced the process of identifying prospects to broaden their collaboration, including ongoing initiatives surrounding the T-50 and FA-50 export programs, such as the U.S. Navy Undergraduate Jet Training System.