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GE
Aerospace turns to Korea to shore up volatile supply chain
By Lee Kyung-min, The Korea Times - A
senior delegation from GE Aerospace arrived in Korea this week, signaling a
renewed push to deepen ties with local suppliers as global aviation and defense
supply chains undergo rapid change.
The state-run Korea Trade-Investment
Promotion Agency (KOTRA) said it hosted “KOTRA x GE Aerospace Day” earlier this
week at the JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, bringing together 23 Korean aerospace and
defense firms for briefings and one-on-one export consultations.
The visit comes as the industry pivots
toward unmanned systems and integrated manned-unmanned operations, with
software-driven capabilities — including artificial intelligence (AI)-based
mission systems and modular architectures — emerging as critical competitive
edges.
During a morning session, GE Aerospace
outlined demand across key areas, including avionics, power systems, engines,
additive manufacturing and aerospace communication technologies. In the
afternoon, nine prescreened Korean firms took part in targeted business
meetings following technical evaluations.
KOTRA said it plans to build a
structured cooperation pipeline with GE Aerospace, supporting Korean firms from
demand discovery and consultations to on-site inspections and follow-up
assistance, with the goal of helping them enter global supply chains.
A GE Aerospace official said the company
has supported Korea’s aviation industry for more than 50 years with proven
engine technologies and experience, adding that it has worked closely with
local companies, particularly in military aircraft programs.
KOTRA said the acceleration of AI-driven
aerospace innovation marks a turning point for Korean firms, adding that the
agency will support their efforts to become key partners in the global supply
chain.
