Rocketing to the Top: How the US Defense Industry is Revolutionizing Warfare with Guided Rockets and Robots
US Defense Spending: LIG Nex1 and Others Gear Up for Advancement
The global defense industry is closely watching the United States, as the country’s defense spending is expected to increase in the future. The US market accounts for about 40% of global defense spending, and the current Joe Biden administration’s average annual defense spending growth rate is at 3.3%. This has led domestic defense companies to target the US, the largest defense market.
LIG Nex1’s Guided Rocket “Bigung” Passes Final Test Launch
LIG Nex1’s self-developed 2.75-inch guided rocket, “Bigung,” successfully passed the final test launch of the Foreign Comparative Test (FCT) hosted by the US Department of Defense during the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) last July. Bigung, which means ”sharp arrow,” is a guided rocket developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and LIG Nex1 over the course of approximately three years since 2012. With the successful final launch test at RIMPAC and recognition of its technological prowess, Bigung is considered to be on the verge of being exported to the US.
LIG Nex1 Acquires Ghostrobotics, Securing US Market for Military Robots
LIG Nex1 acquired Ghostrobotics, a leading quadruped robot company in the US, this year, securing a US market for military robots, a key element of future warfare. Established in Philadelphia, US in 2015, Ghostrobotics is a quadruped robot company recognized worldwide for its unrivaled technological capabilities. The flagship product is the quadruped robot ‘Vision 60’, which is also being supplied to the US Department of Defense. It is designed to move quickly and stably in various environments, including uneven terrain such as gravel fields and hills, as well as unpaved roads, sand, and water.
Domestic Defense Companies Make All-Out Efforts to Enter US Market
Major domestic defense companies, including LIG Nex1, are making all-out efforts to enter the US market. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) aims to win the US Navy’s Advanced Joint Tactical Training (UJTS) program by leading the way with the ‘TF-50,’ an improved version of the FA-50 light attack aircraft currently under development with Lockheed Martin. Hanwha Aerospace will also participate in the US Department of Defense’s bid announcement with its self-developed multi-purpose unmanned vehicle, Arion Smet.