A business jet is about to become one of South Korea’s most complex military platforms, as LIG Nex1 leads the development of the country’s first stand-off electronic warfare (EW) aircraft.
The 1.56-trillion-won ($1.1-billion) program was recently formalized with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, tasking the company with delivering the system by June 2034.
Working with Korean Air, the project will adapt a Bombardier business jet into a specialized platform designed to confuse enemy radar and command networks while operating outside hostile airspace.
LIG Nex1 will develop and install the aircraft’s EW suite, while Korean Air will handle system integration and production.
“We will mobilize our full company-wide capabilities to ensure the successful development of the EW aircraft system, a project of national importance,” the company stated.
A Leap in Electronic Warfare
Until now, South Korea’s EW capabilities have largely been limited to fighter-mounted systems, rather than aircraft dedicated solely to the mission.
A stand-off EW platform would allow the military to jam, deceive, and collect signals without pushing crewed aircraft into heavily defended airspace.
The need for such a capability has grown more urgent amid repeated electronic interference from the North, including past incidents in which GPS signals were disrupted for over 329 days.
The program is also considered among the country’s most challenging defense projects, with the US Air Force’s EA-37B Compass Call often cited as the closest comparable platform.
“Based on our partnership with LIG Nex1, we will also seek to expand into manned and unmanned special mission aircraft and actively explore opportunities in the global defense market,” a Korean Air official said.
