Germany’s Rheinmetall and South Korea’s LIG Defense & Aerospace are joining forces to localize and market missile defense systems for Europe’s rapidly expanding air defense market.
The companies have agreed to establish a strategic partnership aimed at supplying air defense systems to European and NATO customers, including plans for a joint venture in which Rheinmetall would hold a majority stake.
At the heart of the agreement are LIG’s medium- and long-range air defense missile systems, integrating them with Rheinmetall’s short-range air defense portfolio to create a layered defense offering.
The partners also plan to co-develop new short-range air defense missiles to address capability gaps identified by European militaries amid heightened demand following conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
“Europe is entering a new era of defense modernization, and we believe this is the right time to deepen cooperation with a trusted European partner, like Rheinmetall, for a long-term strategic partnership in Europe,” LIG Defense & Aerospace President and CEO Ickhyun Shin said.
Targeting European Defense Market
Recent months have seen a growing number of international defense companies form partnerships to expand their footprint in Europe and meet rising demand from NATO members.
In June, US-based Spire Global and Germany’s Diehl Defence signed an agreement to explore cooperation on space-based intelligence, surveillance, and missile warning systems.
France’s Safran and Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar signed a deal in May expanding cooperation on unmanned aerial systems with a special focus on sensors, navigation technologies, and guided weapon integration.
In February, Abu Dhabi-based EDGE and Safran announced a collaboration focused on developing, producing, and marketing next-generation smart weapons. The agreement combines EDGE’s manufacturing scale with Safran’s expertise in guidance and navigation technologies for European and export markets.
