South Korea and Japan beef up military export trade, showcase defence capabilities at Singapore Airshow

SINGAPORE: South Korea and Japan have been moving to beef up their military export trade, with their intentions on display at the ongoing Singapore Airshow. 
 
South Korea is looking to be among the world’s top few defence exporters, while Japan is hoping to bolster its security partnerships and domestic defence industry, which has endured an exodus of players in recent years. 

KOREA’S RISE IN PROMINENCE 

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is among the defence equipment makers putting its products and systems on display at the Singapore Airshow. The six-day event is held at the Changi Exhibition Centre until Sunday (Feb 25). 
 
The key aerospace and defence company in South Korea is known for developing the jets used by the Republic of Korea Air Force's aerobatics team, known as the Black Eagles. 
 
The Black Eagles, which has won international awards for their demonstrations, are performing in the aerial display at the Singapore Airshow. 
 
Mr Sangshin Park, regional manager and chief of international business development for Asia at KAI, said: “It is the biggest event (in Asia) and we believe that all the neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia are very big potential customers.
 
“So it's very meaningful to set up our booth here and promote our products.”

South Korea is rising in prominence among the world's biggest arm dealers.
 
It signed its biggest arms deal ever with Poland in 2022, laying the groundwork for the nation's defence firms to provide Europe with weapons on the back of the Ukraine war.
 
However, the purchase has been stalled due to a partisan deadlock over legislation that could help expedite the US$22 billion weapons purchase.
 
The sale is a key part of South Korea's plan to become the fourth-largest defence exporter by 2027, a spot now held by China.
 
However, the competition in defence equipment exports is getting stiffer.
 
“In terms of the geopolitical situation, in terms of the influence of China and Japan, we (do not want to) overstep the boundaries. But (we can promote our products to) some of the countries outside of their influence,” said Mr Park. 
 
“Still, we believe that there is a lot of market potential around the world.”

JAPAN EYEING ASIAN MARKET

Meanwhile, Japan is also courting the foreign market following a shift in the country's security policy, which opened its local defence industry to the global market.
 
It is eyeing Asia, where defence spending is on the rise due to economic growth and China’s military expansion.
 
Japan’s defence ministry has set up a booth at the Singapore Airshow for the first time, showcasing its capabilities from aircraft manufacturing to communications. It has also brought along 13 Japanese companies with the aim of supporting sales to other countries.
 
Both Japan and South Korea are the United States’ most important allies in Asia.
 
“For the case of Japan and Korea especially, they are very integrated into the Western supply chain. They're interoperable with western systems,” said Aviation Week Network’s Asia Pacific senior correspondent Chen Chuanren. 
 
“And I think more importantly is that given what's happening around the world, many countries are looking to get military equipment fast and urgently, and (Korea, in particular,) has the capacity and the capability to generate and produce military equipment very easily for these countries.”