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MSDI, Gumi sign MOU for missile defense complex worth about 700 bn won
Коротко
MSDI said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Gumi city in North Gyeongsang Province on Oct. 6 to build a precision-guided weapons production plant, a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) center and an international defense industrial complex. Under the first phase, MSDI plans to invest about 700 billion won by 2029 and secure the required land by the end of this year. The company said talks with several global defense firms are in their final stage, with concrete results expected soon.
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MSDI said on Oct. 6 that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Gumi city in North Gyeongsang Province to build a precision-guided weapons production plant, a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) center and research facilities, together with an international defense industrial complex for domestic and foreign defense companies. Seoul Economic Daily reported the ceremony was held at 11 a.m. in the international trade cooperation room at Gumi City Hall, with Gumi mayor Kim Jang-ho, city council chairman Kang Seung-su and MSDI CEO Hwang Seong-hwan attending. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Under the first phase, the two sides agreed to invest about 700 billion won by 2029 to build a precision-guided weapons plant, an MRO center and facilities for storing and transporting guided weapons. The land is to be secured by the end of this year; Seoul Economic Daily reported that plots 6(8) of the Goa No. 2 complex are designated for the development, production and MRO facilities, with a separate site inside Gumi for final assembly and storage. Yonhap and Asia Economy confirmed the investment figure and the end-of-year target for securing sites but did not give parcel details. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
In the second phase, the companies would be housed in a “one-stop” full-cycle missile defense industrial complex inside an industrial park Gumi is developing, covering research and development, production, system integration, exports and MRO, and attracting domestic and foreign defense firms. Gumi city said it will provide administrative and financial support; Asia Economy and Yonhap reported the support commitment without specifying its scale, as did Seoul Economic Daily. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Hwang said the company plans to jointly develop and then produce a next-generation version of an air-to-ground guided weapon with a European global missile specialist, and to carry out exports and MRO, describing a plan to locate the full life-cycle process in Gumi. He added that MSDI is also pursuing licensed and original equipment manufacturer production of existing air-to-air and air-to-ground guided weapons. All three documents reported that MSDI is in talks with multiple global defense companies on joint development, production and MRO facilities, and that the talks are in their final stage with concrete results to be announced soon; Yonhap reported results could come as early as this year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Seoul Economic Daily also reported that demand for precision-guided weapons is rising, citing the Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran war, production expansion efforts by the United States and investment by major European countries, as well as KF-21 and FA-50 export growth and South Korean Air Force armament needs. The same outlet reported that MSDI changed its name from RNTX on Aug. 3 through an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting and was designated a military trade agency by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration on July 29, and that it is listed on the KOSDAQ. [ 2 ]
Kim said the agreement is a first step toward building a defense industry ecosystem in Gumi linking research and development, production, system integration, exports and MRO, and that the city would provide administrative support so Gumi can grow into a hub of the global defense industry. [ 2 , 3 ]
Почему это важно
The agreement would place missile development, production, exports and MRO in a single site in Gumi, an existing defense-industry base, which the city says would support its bid to become a defense hub. The project depends on cooperation with unnamed global defense companies that MSDI says has not yet been announced, so cost and job figures beyond the first-phase investment are not yet public.
Ключевые факты
- MSDI said it signed an MOU with Gumi city on Oct. 6 for a precision-guided weapons production plant, an MRO center and an international defense industrial complex. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- In the first phase, MSDI plans to invest about 700 billion won by 2029 to build the production plant, MRO center and missile storage and transport facilities. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The land for the development, production and MRO facilities and for final assembly and storage is to be secured by the end of this year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A second phase would create a “one-stop” full-cycle missile defense industrial complex inside an industrial park Gumi is developing, and attract domestic and foreign defense companies. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- MSDI said it is in talks with multiple global defense companies on joint development, production and MRO facilities, talks it described as in their final stage. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- MSDI plans to co-develop a next-generation version of an air-to-ground guided weapon with a European missile specialist, and to pursue licensed and OEM production of existing air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Gumi city said it will provide administrative and financial support for the project. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The signing ceremony took place at Gumi City Hall at 11 a.m. with mayor Kim Jang-ho, city council chairman Kang Seung-su and MSDI CEO Hwang Seong-hwan attending. [ 2 ]
Подтверждено несколькими источниками
- MSDI signed an MOU with Gumi city on Oct. 6 covering a precision-guided weapons production plant, an MRO center and an international defense industrial complex. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The first phase involves about 700 billion won of investment by 2029 for production, MRO and missile storage and transport facilities. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Land for the facilities is to be secured by the end of this year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A second phase would build a “one-stop” full-cycle missile defense industrial complex in an industrial park Gumi is developing and attract domestic and foreign defense firms. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- MSDI CEO Hwang Seong-hwan said the company plans to co-develop and produce a next-generation air-to-ground guided weapon with a European global missile specialist, and to carry out exports and MRO. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- MSDI said negotiations with multiple global defense companies are in their final stage and that concrete results will be announced soon. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Пока неясно
- The identity of the global defense companies MSDI is negotiating with, and of the European missile specialist it plans to work with. The documents refer to multiple global defense firms and a European missile specialist but do not name any of them.
- The scale and form of Gumi city’s administrative and financial support. The documents say support will be provided but give no figures or details.
- Whether the announced global partnerships will be concluded within this year. Yonhap reported results could come as early as this year, while Asia Economy and Seoul Economic Daily cite company statements that talks are near completion without a firm date.
- The reported rise in global demand for precision-guided weapons attributed to the Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran war. This appears only in the Seoul Economic Daily report and is not corroborated by the other documents.
Что пишут местные СМИ
Хронология, местное время
- MSDI and Gumi city hold the MOU signing ceremony at Gumi City Hall, attended by mayor Kim Jang-ho, city council chairman Kang Seung-su and MSDI CEO Hwang Seong-hwan. [ 2 ]
- Asia Economy publishes its report on the MOU and the planned investment. [ 1 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily publishes its report, adding land parcel details and the company’s corporate background. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap publishes its report on the MOU. [ 3 ]