In a significant development for international defense collaboration, South Korea and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) have signed a groundbreaking agreement on military airworthiness certification.
This marks NATO’s first such deal with an Asian nation.
The agreement, formalized on Thursday during the NATO summit in Washington, was signed by South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Programme Administration and NATO’s Aviation Committee.
This pact is likely to streamline the process of certifying military aircraft for safe flight, enhancing cooperation in defense standards.
With this new agreement, NATO will officially recognize South Korea’s airworthiness certifications for domestically produced aircraft.
While South Korea has previously established similar agreements with countries such as the United States, Spain, France, and Poland, this partnership with NATO is likely to significantly expedite the mutual recognition process among other NATO allies.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol welcomed the agreement, emphasizing its potential to bolster defense industry collaboration with NATO member states.
“The signing of the airworthiness certification will enhance interoperability between South Korea and NATO,” he stated during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
This agreement comes on the heels of South Korea’s ongoing efforts to expand its defense exports.
Notably, in 2022, Korea Aerospace Industries secured a deal to sell 48 FA-50 light combat aircraft to Poland, successfully delivering 12 jets to date.
As South Korea strengthens its ties with NATO, this agreement represents a pivotal step towards greater military cooperation and interoperability in an increasingly complex global security environment.
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