DefenseEmbraer and South Korea's Defense Agency Sign Cooperation Agreement
Embraer and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration of South Korea (DAPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on October 20, during the opening of ADEX in Seoul. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in new business opportunities within the South Korean defense sector.
The MoU seeks to create opportunities for the integration of Korean companies into the global supply chain and to enhance defense exports.
“This MOU will serve as a significant opportunity for Korea and Brazil to move beyond a simple buyer-seller relationship and toward a model of mutual growth cooperation,” said Air Force Brigadier General Kang Joong-hee, Director of the Aircraft Business Division at DAPA. “Through strategic cooperation with Embraer, the DAPA will actively support the entry of Korean companies into the overseas supply chain and the expansion of Korean defense exports.”
“The MoU reflects the growing partnership between Embraer and DAPA. It leverages on Embraer Defense & Security’s comprehensive capabilities across air, land, sea and space domains to explore avenues for collaboration, innovation and support South Korea’s evolving defense needs,” said Bosco da Costa Jr., President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security at the signing ceremony.
The selection of the C-390 Millennium cargo aircraft by DAPA in 2023 to equip the Republic of Korea Air Force is a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship. The aircraft will be modified to meet the specific operational requirements of ROKAF.
Embraer has maintained industrial partnerships with Korean companies since 2013, integrating local suppliers into its global chain. In September 2025, the company, in collaboration with KOTRA, conducted demonstrations of the C-390 in Sacheon and Busan, highlighting local market interest.
DAPA’s institutional support for the integration of Korean companies into the supply chain can boost industrial integration and contribute to the competitiveness of the local defense sector.
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