Future General Atomics Unmanned Aircraft Could Use S.Korean Parts

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) said today it wants to build on its industrial collaboration efforts in the Republic of Korea (ROK).

“Korea Jig & Fixture (KJF) just made the first step towards future cooperation with GA-ASI. We would like to deliver made-in-Korea equipment supporting GA-ASI’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) operation,” said KJF Executive Vice President Jisang Park.

GA-ASI has been active in exploring supply chain and research opportunities in ROK since 2017, with collaborative Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with Huneed Technologies Co. Ltd. (Huneed) and Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). In September 2020, GA-ASI executed a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with Korea Jig & Fixture (KJF), the company said in a statement.

GA-ASI said it hopes to collaborate with KJF on future manufacture of support equipment.

“We are pleased to be working with GA-ASI, the world’s technology leader of advanced remotely piloted aircraft that is revolutionizing defense and civil mission capabilities. Our partnership discussions has been an important part of our next steps to expand our business globally by 2025 as we look beyond contract manufacturing. Our growing capabilities into built-to-specification production, joint electronics systems development and Avionics Manufacture, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) capabilities at a global scale are resources available to GA-ASI in the future,” said Eugene Kim, chairman of Huneed.