Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (KAI) said Thursday it has signed a tentative partnership with a Peruvian state-run firm to jointly produce components for KAI’s FA-50 light attack aircraft.

KAI said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Peru’s state-backed aerospace company Seman, which is controlled by the Peruvian defense ministry, on Wednesday (local time), for the co-production scheme.

Under the agreement, KAI plans to form a joint task force with Seman and commence working-level discussions for the joint production of major parts, including machinery and sheet metal.

In 2012, Seman locally assembled 16 out of the 20 KT-1P aircraft that KAI contracted to export to Peru.

KAI expects that this agreement, following the stable partnership involving the KT-1P, will create a favorable foundation for the FA-50 to be selected as the next-generation fighter for Peru.

South Korea has been pitching to sell the country’s FA-50 jets to Peru, with President Yoon Suk Yeol having asked his Peruvian counterpa
rt, Dina Boluarte, for the South American nation’s interest and support for KAI’s FA-50 in a meeting in November.

Source: Yonhap News Agency