LIG Defense and Aerospace Partners with Firehawk Aerospace at AUSA Exhibition
LIG Defense and Aerospace signed a teaming agreement with American defense startup Firehawk Aerospace on Oct. 13 at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting in Washington, D.C., donga.com reported. The agreement establishes a joint effort to develop a propulsion system for the 2.75-inch Poniard guided rocket and targets local production for United States military procurement.
Teaming Agreement Details at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center
The binding teaming agreement covers joint propulsion system development, local marketing in the United States, and promotional activities aimed at the United States government. Both companies plan to evaluate further production cooperation after completing the initial development phase. The announcement took place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center during the annual AUSA defense exhibition, which gathers approximately 750 global defense companies and military leaders.
Poniard Development History and Export Localization Requirements
The Republic of Korea military deployed the Poniard guided rocket between 2016 and 2017 after it was jointly developed in 2015 by LIG Defense and Aerospace and the Agency for Defense Development. While the weapon system has proven performance in domestic service and participated in the 2024 Rim of the Pacific exercise, manufacturing finished units in South Korea for export to the United States remains difficult due to legal and supply chain rules. Meeting Buy America regulations and the Berry Amendment requires developers to build local rocket propulsion components and establish manufacturing lines within the United States.
Role of Firehawk Aerospace 3D Printing Technology
Firehawk Aerospace utilizes advanced three-dimensional printing technology to build rocket propulsion systems with the goal of reducing manufacturing timelines and expenses. Applying this technology to the United States variant of the Poniard propulsion system aims to lower overall production costs. Baek Hyung-sik, head of the global business division at LIG Defense and Aerospace, stated that the partnership builds on the original joint development efforts between South Korea and the United States. Will Edwards, chief executive officer of Firehawk Aerospace, noted that the collaboration connects munitions production capacity with solid rocket motor output to offer more economical aerospace and missile defense options for the United States and its allies.