Doosan Enerbility and LIG D&A Localize Guided Weapon Engines

Doosan Enerbility signs guided weapon development MOU with LIG D&A (provided by Doosan Enerbility) To strengthen technological self-reliance in South Korea’s defense industry, Doosan Enerbility and LIG Defense & Aerospace, hereinafter referred to as LIG D&A, are moving to develop next-generation guided weapon engines. On Oct. 20, the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to secure capabilities for the localization of guided weapon engines and established a cooperative framework for a push into the global market. Under the agreement, LIG D&A will lead the overall development of guided weapon systems, while Doosan Enerbility will take exclusive charge of developing the engine, the core component of those systems. The two companies plan to work closely together throughout the entire process, from engine design to testing, evaluation, and certification. The move reflects their judgment that securing high-performance engines has become essential as demand for long-range precision strike systems has surged in the global defense market in recent years. The localization of engines is expected to serve as a turning point that goes beyond simply enhancing technological capability by dramatically reducing dependence on foreign technology. Until now, domestically developed weapons systems have often faced constraints in the export process due to reliance on overseas suppliers for key components. Through this cooperation, securing independent engine technology is expected to further strengthen the export competitiveness of K-defense. Doosan Enerbility has accumulated technological capabilities in the aircraft engine sector, while LIG D&A possesses the highest level of guided weapon system development capabilities in South Korea. Their strategy is to maximize synergy by combining expertise in each field. In step with changes in the future defense market, the two companies plan to build up a lineup of high-performance engines applicable to next-generation weapon systems. Son Seung-woo, head of Power Service BG at Doosan Enerbility, said the agreement is particularly meaningful in that it has established a long-term cooperative framework with LIG D&A, adding that by combining the two companies’ core technologies, they will contribute to the localization of K-defense technologies capable of competing in the global market.