Hanwha Aerospace to acquire additional KAI shares for 500 bln won

By Kim Eun-jung SEOUL, June 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean defense firm Hanwha Aerospace Co. said Tuesday it will acquire additional stake in Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Ltd. in a deal valued at 500 billion won (US$331.3 million) to strengthen their strategic partnership. In a regulatory filing, Hanwha Aerospace said it plans to acquire 3.38 million shares in KAI by the end of this year, which would raise its stake in the company to 10 percent. Hanwha Aerospace said the acquisition is aimed at "strengthening business cooperation" with KAI, the manufacturer of KF-21 advanced fighter jets. KAI, as the sole Korean aircraft manufacturer, also builds the FA-50 light attack jets and its trainer variants, as well as the Surion and the Miron helicopters. The defense company has been steadily increasing its stake in KAI as part of its broader ambition to establish an integrated aerospace and defense ecosystem spanning aircraft, satellites, launch vehicles and defense systems. The two companies already collaborate on major projects, including the KF-21 program, where KAI serves as the prime contractor, and Hanwha supplies key propulsion and defense technologies. This file photo from Feb. 6, 2026, shows Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il (L) and Korea Aerospace Industries CEO Kang Goo-young attending a signing ceremony of an agreement on future strategic cooperation in central Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) ejkim@yna.co.kr(END)