The F-15EX is the latest variant of the F-15 family, offering high payload capacity, extended range, and scalability based on an open systems architecture.Hanwha Systems announced on December 18 that it has signed a contract with Boeing to supply the 'Eagle Large Area Display (ELAD)' for the Republic of Korea Air Force’s F-15K and the U.S. Air Force’s latest F-15EX fighter jets. This marks the first time Korean-developed avionics technology has been adopted for a U.S. frontline combat aircraft program.

The achievement is the result of close cooperation between the South Korean government—led by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)—and Hanwha Systems’ accumulated avionics expertise. In November last year, DAPA signed an industrial cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Boeing as part of the F-15K performance upgrade program, aiming to expand Korean industry participation in global defense supply chains.

Following sustained government-backed industrial cooperation efforts, Hanwha Systems was selected as the supplier of large-area cockpit displays for the F-15, opening the door to the U.S. defense market.

The ELAD integrates information that was previously distributed across multiple cockpit instruments into a single large-format display, significantly enhancing pilot situational awareness and mission efficiency. Through an intuitive, touch-based interface, pilots can directly issue commands to the mission computer (MC), a capability considered a core feature of modern fighter cockpits.

The ELAD supplied to Boeing will be optimized for the F-15EX platform, reflecting the aircraft’s specific cockpit layout and operational requirements.

The ELAD supplied to Boeing will be optimized for the F-15EX platform, reflecting the aircraft’s specific cockpit layout and operational requirements. The design leverages Hanwha Systems’ experience in developing multi-function displays (MFDs) for South Korea’s next-generation fighter, the KF-21 Boramae.

Hanwha Systems is a key supplier of seven core avionics systems for the KF-21, including the mission computer, multi-function displays, audio communication control system (ACCS), and terrain-following computer (TFC), all developed with indigenous technology. The company has also jointly developed an AESA radar with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), a capability previously restricted from U.S. technology transfer, and supplies domestically developed IRST and EO targeting pods for the KF-21.

The F-15EX is the latest variant of the F-15 family, offering high payload capacity, extended range, and scalability based on an open systems architecture. The F-15 series remains in service with multiple air forces worldwide, including those of the United States, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, with cockpit modernization programs continuing across the fleet.

With this contract, Hanwha Systems’ technology is expected to play a growing role in F-15 upgrade programs, further integrating Korean avionics into global fighter modernization efforts.

Beyond fighter avionics, Hanwha Systems has expanded its global defense footprint across multiple domains. The company supplies multi-function radars (MFR) for the Cheongung-II (M-SAM Block II) medium-range surface-to-air missile system to customers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. It has also exported naval combat management systems to 13 Philippine Navy vessels and, last year, delivered AESA radar antenna components to Italy’s Leonardo, expanding its presence in Europe.

A Hanwha Systems official stated, “The export of the large-area display represents a significant milestone, as our avionics technology has been recognized in the U.S. domestic defense market. Building on strong cooperation with the Korean government and DAPA, we will continue to expand our presence in the global avionics market.”

The official added, “We will further enhance our technology so that Hanwha Systems’ ELAD can be applied not only to the F-15K and F-15EX upgrades, but also to future global fighter aircraft programs.”

K-DEFENSE NEWS | Strategic Analysis Desk

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