Korean Air Signs ECA with Raytheon for ISTAR Program

Korean Air signed an exclusive collaboration agreement (ECA) with Raytheon on Tuesday.

The main purpose of the ECA is for the two companies to collaborate on design, modifications, flight tests and airworthiness for the Korean Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) program.

“In today’s threat environment, a few seconds can make all the difference,” said Roy Azevedo, president of Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems. “Our Multi-INT solution ensures Korean commanders have the information they need, when they need it. By combining multiple sensors with advanced communications systems, we’re delivering decision superiority.”

Under the ECA, both companies seek to jointly participate in ISTAR and expand collaboration in other technological areas needed by the Republic of Korea’s military, including follow-on logistics support in Korea and overseas markets.

Meanwhile, Korean Air is carrying out depot level maintenance and upgrade programs for more than 4,500 aircraft, including Korean and US fighters, cargo aircraft and helicopters. It has the largest military aircraft upgrade capability and depot level maintenance company in the Asia-Pacific region.

In particular, Korean Air is Korea’s leading developer in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), including division-level tactical UAV, which are being deployed to the army, and strategic medium altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (MUAV) under flight test and tilt rotor UAV.

The successful completion of the Navy P-3C maritime patrol aircraft upgrade program, which is the core power of Korea’s anti-submarine operations and the Air Force's signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft system development program, contributed to strengthening Korea’s anti-submarine power and surveillance and reconnaissance power.

Executive Vice President and CTO of Korean Air, Mr. Soo-Keun Lee, said, “Korean Air, which has the best aircraft upgrade and MRO capabilities in Korea, expects to make a great contribution to increase surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for the Korean military through collaboration with Raytheon, which has the world's best mission equipment technology.”

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