LIG D&A and Rheinmetall Establish Joint Venture for Advanced Air Defense Systems

by Han Jiyeon Posted : June 16, 2026, 16:04Updated : June 16, 2026, 16:04
LIG D&A and Rheinmetall Air Defence have formed a strategic partnership to provide advanced air defense systems for Europe and NATO. On June 15, the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding at the Rheinmetall booth during the Eurosatory international defense exhibition in Paris. Lee Hyun-soo, head of LIG D&A's overseas business division (right), and Oliver Dühr, CEO of Rheinmetall Air Defence, pose for a commemorative photo.
LIG D&A and Rheinmetall Air Defence have formed a strategic partnership to provide advanced air defense systems for Europe and NATO. On June 15, the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding at the Rheinmetall booth during the Eurosatory international defense exhibition in Paris. Lee Hyun-soo, head of LIG D&A's overseas business division (right), and Oliver Dühr, CEO of Rheinmetall Air Defence, pose for a commemorative photo.[Photo=LIG D&A]

LIG Defense and Aerospace (LIG D&A) announced on June 16 that it has formed a strategic partnership with Germany's Rheinmetall Air Defence to collaborate on providing advanced air defense systems for Europe and NATO.

This partnership comes in response to a significant increase in demand for multi-layered air defense systems in Europe, aiming to deliver integrated air defense solutions that meet customer needs. As a first step, the companies are discussing the establishment of a joint venture in Europe.

Both companies plan to enhance their capabilities to provide a "one-stop turnkey solution" based on their complementary product portfolios. They intend to integrate LIG D&A's medium-range air defense missile systems with Rheinmetall's very short-range air defense (VSHORAD) technology, focusing on localization, development, and sales in the European market. They also plan to jointly develop a new missile system for short-range air defense (SHORAD) to create a comprehensive air defense layer that spans from very short-range to long-range.

LIG D&A has developed and produced advanced multi-layered air defense solutions, including long-range surface-to-air missiles (L-SAM), medium-range surface-to-air missiles (M-SAM II), and portable air defense missiles (CHIRON), which is expected to create strong synergy with Rheinmetall.

Recently, LIG D&A has been proactive in entering the European defense market, having opened a European office in Munich.

Lee Ik-hyun, CEO of LIG D&A, stated, "It is significant to pursue strategic cooperation with Rheinmetall at a crucial time for the modernization of European defense. We will continue to promote sustainable collaboration in research and development, marketing, and other areas."





* This article has been translated by AI.