Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced on Dec. 15 that it has won a new order for the G280 fuselage from Israel's IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries LTD).
G280 is a top-of-the-line mid-size business jet with 10 seats and 200 units were delivered by June, while KAI plans to deliver the fuselage by 2030.
Unlike the previous project, which used to assemble panels, G280's fuselage that was ordered this time, means that KAI supplies finished fuselage structures just before interior work of the aircraft. This is the first time KAI has won an order for a complete fuselage structure, including a seat rail.
KAI signed an exclusive production contract with IAI in 2019 for the entire main wings of the G280 aircraft. It successfully developed main wing of the No. 1 aircraft in April 2020 and is currently mass-producing it.
KAI plans to secure technology and infrastructure for the development of civil aircraft in the future by simultaneously producing both main wings and fuselage structures of the G280 aircraft.
The current G280 fuselage project will be carried out with small and medium-sized suppliers in Sacheon, which is expected to be of great help to small and medium-sized companies that have difficulty securing supplies owing to COVID-19.
KAI is taking the lead in building partnerships with suppliers to develop the domestic aerospace industry and create a healthy ecosystem for large and small businesses.
