The Korea Army International Defence Industry Exhibition (KADEX) took place on a military airbase in Gyeryondae, South Korea between October 2-6, hosted by AROKA and sponsored by the ROK’s Ministry of National Defence (MND), the Ministry of Trade, the ROK Army, the Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and others.
KADEX featured over 500 exhibitors and 70,000 attendees from over fifty countries, making this event the largest ever.
There was a strong Australian presence at the show, both through a sizeable ADF contingent – Head Land Systems Major General Jason Blain, Director General Logistics – Army Brigadier Rebecca Talbot, and soldiers from 3RAR – and an Australian industry presence, such as MOOG and Bale Defence.
In an interview at the show, MAJGEN Blain told ADM that it is ‘important’ for Australian companies to explore opportunities broadly, including in the Korean market.
“There are over 100 Australian SMEs that are part of the project work under Land 8116 and Land 400 Phase 3, and there is a strong connection to Korea through those SMEs,” MAJGEN Blain said. “It’s important for Australian industry to look very broadly for where opportunities are.”
MAJGEN Blain said he brought a ‘strong interest’ in counter-UAS capabilities on his visit to the ROK, particularly in terms of the ROK Army’s capabilities and acquisition plans.
“I’ve visited a number of Korean companies here to get an understanding of their technical innovations,” MAJGEN Blain said. “That’s been very worthwhile, as well as visiting companies involved in engineering and engineering support; and looking at where technology is going in munitions and missiles and those spaces.
“Overall it is about seeing the breadth of Korean industry and the areas of focus they have, and where Australia plays a role in supporting those opportunities.”
MAJGEN Blain said Army has brought teams from 4 Regiment Royal Australian Artillery to South Korea to work alongside ROK soldiers on how to utilise the AS9 self-propelled howitzer, as well as soldiers from 3RAR to learn about the Redback IFV capability.
MAJGEN Blain told ADM that potential future capability requirements for Army are likely to include: platform integration for Army’s new capabilities, such as IFVs, landing craft and long-range fires; capabilities emerging from doctrinal changes pivoting towards littoral manoeuvre; and uncrewed systems.
“Look at the demand signal of where Army’s going,” MAJGEN Blain said. “But I have a responsibility to understand the market. Market intelligence is important; so if we are looking at a capability gap, we can go straight to an option or understand the viable options going forward.”
MAJGEN Blain believes the relationship between Defence and the Ministry of National Defence is only growing stronger.
“The relationship between the delivery managers, the equivalent agencies – DAPA and CASG – is very strong,” MAJGEN Blain said.
In a public address, South Korea’s Minister of Defence Kim Yong-Hyun noted the growth of the ROK’s defence exports to US$15 billion, the country’s plans to expand this portfolio globally, and the ROK’s willingness to bring ‘package offers’ to partner nations, including technological transfer and training.
Headline Korean land capabilities on show at the event included the K2 main battle tank, built by Hyundai Rotem; the K9 howitzer and K10 ammunition resupply vehicle (which Australia is acquiring); the Chunmoo rocket artillery system; the Korean Light Attack Helicopter; the Redback infantry fighting vehicle (which Australia is acquiring); the Tigon armoured personnel carrier; and the ARION-SMET uncrewed ground vehicle, which this year completed foreign comparative testing with the US military.
ADM spoke with several Korean companies either with business interests in Australia; ambitions to partner with Australian companies; or plans to enter the Australian market.
Contec, a major Korean space company, recently opened a 5.5 metre ground station in Western Australia. Company representatives told ADM that the company intends to build another by 2026 in support of a bid to supply 20 high resolution imaging satellites to an unnamed Australian government customer, capable of providing imaging to a 50-centimetre resolution with dual-use capabilities.
In land systems, ADM spoke with MNC Solutions, who have a strategic partnership with Corvus Technology Solutions to supply almost 2,000 in-arm suspension units to Hanwha Defence Australia for the 129 Redback IFVs under production for the Australian Army.
Fourteen MNC/Corvus suspension units are fitted into each Redback, each weighing 180 kg and static load capable to 40-45 kN. The contract is worth almost $100 million and will create 40 jobs at Corvus’ facility in Melbourne. In May, Corvus opened an office in Seoul to support its partnership with both MNC Solutions and Hanwha.
ADM also spoke with Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI), famous for developing South Korea’s first indigenous fighter jet, the KF-21 Boromae. KAI is also collaborating with Lockheed Martin to offer the T-50 for the RAAF’s Hawk Lead-in Fighter Replacement under the $5 billion Air 6002 Phase 1 program, which was deferred to 2031.
Major foreign exhibitors at KADEX included Lockheed Martin, AeroVironment, Embraer, Acrow Bridge, Saab and Safran, as well as aforementioned Australian companies MOOG and Bale Defence.
Bale Defence, a family-owned company headquartered in Port Macquarie, delivered the ADF’s next generation rough terrain vehicle (RTV) fleet – the RTV 2 - through a contract signed in 2021, which itself built on the delivery of 19 RTVs to the Australian Army ten years ago.
The ADF now operates over 50 RTV 2s across 2 Commando Regiment and RAAF’s 4 Squadron.
Bale Defence told ADM that it intends to offer the RTV 2 for an anticipated South Korean request for information in 2025. The vehicles are manufactured in Port Macquarie, and offer modular mission sets as well as aerial delivery from CH-47 Chinooks and Merlin helicopters.