DSME is one of the 'Big Three' Korean shipbuilders, along with Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries, that has supplied Korea and others with warships for more than four decades. Hyundai Rotem is a heavy industry company contributing to national security by developing tanks and armored vehicles. LIG Nex1 specializes in developing weapon systems such as precision guided munitions, surveillance and reconnaissance radar and communication systems. KAI is a leader in the national aviation industry and was established in 1999 when the government consolidated aircraft makers to merge their aviation capabilities into one.
Hanwha Aerospace recently received a conditional approval from the Fair Trade Commission to acquire DSME to add a shipbuilding component to its arms portfolio. Established in 1977, Hanwha Aerospace is the sole producer of aircraft engines in Korea and specializes in manufacturing engines, aircraft components and developing defense systems. Hanwha Aerospace, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), LIG Nex1, Hyundai Rotem and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) are on the front lines of Korea's defense industry. Foreign defense officials visit the DX Korea 2022 ground defense exhibition held at Kintex in Gyeonggi on Sept 21.
