Korean firms promote sale of weapons systems

Korean companies are taking part in a defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to promote the sale of locally-built weapons systems, industry and government sources said Sunday.
The biannual 2007 International Defenses Exhibition held in the United Arab Emirates is the largest tri-service arms show in the Middle East, with 862 companies from 50 countries taking part in the five-day event that runs through Thursday.
Industry sources said Korea Aerospace Industries, Samsung Techwin Co., Doosan Infracore and 13 other Korean companies are staffing booths at this year’s exhibition.
Of the Korean weapons systems on display, Seoul is most aggressively pitching its T-50 advanced jet trainer to the UAE. Commerce, Industry and Energy Minister Kim Young-ju was at the opening ceremony on Sunday to drum up support for the supersonic jet.
The T-50 Golden Eagle jet, built by Korea Aerospace, is locked in a close race with Italian aircraft to secure an order from the UAE armed forces. If Korea Aerospace wins the contract, it will be the first export of a jet aircraft for the country. Up until now, the country has exported prop aircraft like the KT-1 military basic trainer and the Firefly, a small passenger aircraft.
“Securing the first export contract is important because it can be decisive for future deals,” said a government official at the commerce and industry ministry. Korea is a major importer of weapons in the world, but it is also interested in expanding exports. In the past, it has sold relatively low-tech items like uniforms, small arms and ammunition. In recent years, it has sold armored personnel carriers, self-propelled howitzers and basic propeller trainer aircraft.