LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) is pursuing comprehensive cooperation with Germany's Rheinmetall Air Defence to supply advanced air-defense systems to Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Rheinmetall is a global leader in ground-based air defense. It has broad capabilities in high-performance guns and weapon systems, sensors and fire-control systems, integrated command and control (C2) systems, mobile and fixed air-defense systems, drone defense systems, and ammunition and system components.
LIG D&A said on the 16th that it signed a strategic partnership with Rheinmetall. With demand for layered air defense in Europe rising sharply, the core is to draw up cooperation plans to provide integrated air-defense solutions that meet customer needs. They are also advancing in-depth talks on setting up a joint venture in Europe.
The two companies plan to strengthen their ability to provide a "one-stop turnkey solution" in the European market based on complementary product portfolios. First, they will link LIG D&A's medium- and long-range air-defense missile system with Rheinmetall's very short range air defense (VSHORAD) capability to pursue localization, development, and sales in Europe. In addition, they agreed to jointly develop a new missile system for short range air defense (SHORAD) and push to build an all-around air-defense layer spanning from very short to long range.
Shin Ik-hyeon, CEO of LIG D&A, said, "It is meaningful to pursue strategic cooperation with Rheinmetall at an important time when Europe's defense modernization is underway," and added, "We will continue sustainable cooperation in various fields, including R&D and marketing." Oliver Dür, CEO of Rheinmetall Air Defence, also said, "Through this cooperation, we will be able to provide European customers with a broader air-defense capability."