SPECIAL FEATURE

---

Seoul ADEX 2025 expanded significantly in scale following the relocation of its business exhibition to KINTEX.

---

The 15th edition of the Seoul International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (ADEX) was held from 17 to 24 October 2025. The eight-day event—the largest in the show’s history—was structured into a three-day public show at Seoul Air Base, Seongnam, followed by a five-day business exhibition at the Korea International Exhibition Centre (KINTEX) in Ilsan. This show’s structure underscored the dual role of ADEX as both a public-facing showcase of national capability and a commercially focused defence industry forum.

---

History of Seoul ADEX

South Korea’s first international airshow was launched in 1996 and adopted a biennial cycle from 2001. The creation of the Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in 2006 provided a centralised framework for procurement and export coordination, materially improving the coherence of Korea’s defence-industrial policy. In 2009, the event was expanded to include a ground exhibition component and rebranded as Seoul ADEX.

Since then, Seoul ADEX has evolved into a strategically significant exhibition. It functions simultaneously as a marketing platform for Korea’s major defence conglomerates, a venue for defence diplomacy and government-to-government engagement, and a visible showcase of national prestige and technological ambition.

---

General Son Seok-rak, Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), thanking invited guests and members of the public with “finger hearts” after concluding his opening address at Seoul ADEX 2025.

---

The Boom of the K-Defence Industry

South Korea is pursuing a state-led transformation of its defence industry, articulated around the objective of becoming one of the world’s top four defence powers by 2030. This ambition is underpinned by sustained increases in defence expenditure and an export-oriented industrial strategy.

South Korea’s defence budget for 2025 stands at ₩61.2 trillion (approximately US$43 billion), equivalent to around 2.3 per cent of GDP. An increase of 8.2 per cent to ₩66.3 trillion (approximately US$47.4 billion) has been announced for 2026, representing the largest annual rise since 2019. Longer-term plans envisage defence spending rising to 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2035, aligning South Korea more closely with NATO spending benchmarks and reinforcing long-term alliance commitments with the United States.

Based on the combined operating profits of 31 listed defence companies, the defence sector has become one of South Korea’s five most significant industrial segments, alongside semiconductors, automobiles, smartphones and shipbuilding. This status reflects not only increased domestic procurement but also the growing contribution of exports.

The nation recorded arms sales of US$17.3 billion in 2022 and secured more than US$4 billion in defence exports in 2023. Between 2020 and 2024, the country ranked among the world’s top ten arms exporters, accounting for approximately 2.2 per cent of global exports to 23 recipient states. Demand has been driven in part by the post-2022 security environment in Europe and the Middle East, where buyers have prioritised systems that are NATO-compatible and available on accelerated delivery timelines.

Korean defence exports have developed a distinct market reputation centred on rapid production, competitive pricing and integration with Western standards. These strengths are increasingly complemented by improvements in product maturity, combat credibility and modularity. More recently, South Korea has sought to embed exports within longer-term cooperative frameworks, leveraging technology transfer, licensed production and industrial collaboration to deepen strategic partnerships.

Poland has emerged as the most significant example of this approach. Accounting for 46 per cent of South Korea’s arms exports in 2024, Polish acquisitions include the K2 main battle tank (K2GF and K2PL variants), K9 self-propelled howitzer, FA-50 light combat aircraft and Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system. The K2PL programme includes a planned transfer of production to the state-owned Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), indicating a shift from direct procurement towards co-production and industrial integration.

The reasons for these arrangements are mutually beneficial – South Korea advances its global market position while benefiting from economies of scale that help reduce domestic acquisition costs and generate capital for further technological investment. The export customer, in turn, is able to modernise its armed forces at pace while remaining aligned with domestic industrial policy priorities, of which European states are embracing some form of defence protectionism.

At the opening of the Seoul ADEX 2025 business show, President Lee Jae-myung reaffirmed South Korea’s objective of becoming a top-four global defence power and outlined policy measures intended to build on recent gains. Emphasis was placed on expanded research and development in core technologies—including defence-specific semiconductors—to improve strategic self-reliance, alongside support for independent space capabilities. The administration also highlighted closer integration of the private sector as strategic partners, including reduced barriers to entry for small and medium-sized enterprises and the introduction of fast-track mechanisms to accelerate the fielding of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence-enabled systems and unmanned platforms, which startups have demonstrated innovation agility in recent global contexts.

KAI KF-21 on static display, with the ROKAF Black Eagles performing the opening “Big Arrow” flypast in the background.

---

Seoul ADEX 2025 Business Days – KINTEX

The business segment of Seoul ADEX 2025 was co-hosted by the Korea Aerospace Industries Association (KAIA) and the Korea Defence Industry Association (KODIA), with institutional support from the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The exhibition featured 600 companies from 35 countries across approximately 2,800 booths. International attendance included 98 VIP delegations from 52 countries. With around 49,000 square metres of exhibition space across Halls 9 and 10 at KINTEX, the 2025 edition represented a 58 per cent increase in scale compared with the 2023 show, traditionally held at Seoul Air Base. Organisers noted that the event’s footprint is now comparable to top global aerospace exhibitions such as the Farnborough International Airshow (approximately 49,000 square metres) and the Paris Air Show (approximately 79,000 square metres).

Artificial intelligence and hybrid manned–unmanned systems emerged as dominant themes for the show. Major defence firms presented systems reflecting these trends: Hanwha showcased the Loitering-Type Precision Guided Weapon (L-PGW) and Themis-K unmanned ground vehicle; LIG Nex1 unveiled the G-Sword system; and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) highlighted its Adaptable Aerial Platform (AAP) prototype, which is flown by the K-AI Pilot.

Seoul ADEX 2025 also debuted the New Technology Pavilion, also referred to as the Space and Advanced Air Mobility Pavilion. Displays included models of reusable launch vehicles, satellite communications systems, robotic and optical payloads, space-grade composite materials, lunar exploration rovers and full-scale mock-ups of advanced air mobility aircraft concepts.

The outdoor exhibition area presented a comprehensive display of 43 types of K-Defence equipment, many of which represent established export products. These included the K9 self-propelled howitzer, K2 main battle tank, K239 Chunmoo Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and Cheongung Medium-range Surface-to-Air Missile (M-SAM) system.

In parallel, 32 seminars and forums were conducted during the business days, addressing topics ranging from defence supply-chain resilience to emerging operational concepts such as manned–unmanned teaming (MUM-T).

---

With approximately 49,000 square metres of exhibition space, organisers state that Seoul ADEX has risen to the ranks of the world’s leading airshows.

---

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Leonardo and Hanwha Systems to explore new cooperation opportunities in the electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) domain. The two companies previously collaborated on the KF-21’s AESA radar and IRST, and are also proposing the Grifo EK radar.

---

---

---

Seoul ADEX 2025 Public Days – Seoul Air Base

Owing to access constraints at Seoul Air Base associated with the APEC Summit, the public show was scheduled ahead of the business exhibition. The opening ceremonial flypast was held on the morning of 17 October 2025 in front of a large public audience.

The event was attended by General Son Seok-rak, Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), and opened with flypasts by frontline assets. A formation of four F-35As accompanied by a KC-330 led the sequence, followed by formations of five F-15Ks, five KF-16C/Ds, a mixed formation of three KF-16C/Ds with KF-5Es, and a concluding formation of five FA-50s.

One of the air base’s two runways, 01/19, was utilised for the static display, providing an expansive layout that included 32 aircraft, nine ground-based air defence systems, and a dedicated aircraft weapons and armaments exhibition.

The flying programme emphasised domestically developed platforms. Korea Aerospace Industries presented demonstration flights of its principal aircraft types: the T-50 advanced trainer, KT-1 basic trainer, Light Attack Helicopter (LAH) and KF-21 Boramae fighter.

The KF-21 demonstration, one of the most closely observed elements of the show, flew one of its most demanding public display till date, including high-speed passes, inverted flight and minimum-radius turns. The LAH demonstration similarly highlighted the helicopter’s agility through advanced manoeuvres, including a full loop.

ROKAF also conducted a Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) demonstration simulating the recovery of a downed pilot in a contested environment. A KA-1 forward air control aircraft, two KF-16Cs and two FA-50s conducted simulated suppression runs, followed by the low-level ingress of two HH-60P Pave Hawk helicopters. Ground forces arrived in KLTVs to secure the landing zone, while special forces personnel rappelled from one helicopter to stabilise and extract the pilot as the second provided airborne cover. The fast-paced scenario highlighted the operational coordination and professionalism of the 6th Search and Rescue Squadron, which is solely responsible for similar missions nationwide.

Additional aerial displays included tandem parachute jumps by the ROKAF Special Forces High Altitude Parachute Team from a CN-235 transport aircraft, and a precision aerobatic performance by the Black Eagles team flying eight T-50B aircraft, which received overwhelming support from the local crowd.

Paul Bennet Airshows was the sole foreign civilian participant, with Paul Bennet and Glenn Graham flying Pitts S-1-11 and Pitts S1-SE aircraft respectively.

Other programme elements included 30-minute flight experiences aboard C-130 and CN-235 aircraft, allocated through a public ballot in which 290 Korean citizens were selected. The 10th National Pilot Appointment Ceremony was held on the afternoon of 18 October 2025; four citizens were chosen through a nationwide competition, with a 443-to-1 competition rate, to experience the role and responsibilities of an air force pilot on a T/FA-50. On-site were also performances by military bands and honour guards from the Ministry of National Defense, the Republic of Korea Air Force and the Republic of Korea Marine Corps.

---

Visitors fill the showgrounds in large numbers during the three public days of Seoul ADEX 2025.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---