South Korea Upgrades Airborne Early Warning Capabilities with Global 6500 AEW&C
South Korea is taking a major step to strengthen its air defense and surveillance capabilities with the acquisition of four next-generation airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, supplied by a consortium led by L3Harris Technologies and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced the selection on September 30, 2025, under the KRW 3.1 trillion (USD 2.2 billion) E-X Phase 2 program, aimed at enhancing national security amid rising regional threats.
The aircraft will feature IAI’s advanced EL/W-2085 radar integrated into Bombardier Global 6500 business jets, marking the radar’s first deployment on this platform. The conformal radar modules are mounted along the fuselage to maintain aerodynamic efficiency while delivering dual-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) capabilities. This allows the aircraft to detect multiple targets at long range with high precision, providing continuous situational awareness. Each jet is capable of more than ten hours of flight endurance without air-to-air refueling, making it ideal for extended surveillance operations.
South Korea’s current fleet of four Boeing 737-based E-7 Peace Eye aircraft, delivered between 2011 and 2012, provides limited coverage of the country’s air defense identification zone. The new Global 6500-based AEW&C platforms will greatly extend this surveillance reach, enabling faster threat detection and improved response capability over the Korean Peninsula and surrounding airspace. With regional threats becoming increasingly sophisticated, these aircraft will be a critical asset for maintaining security and operational readiness.
The selection of L3Harris and IAI over competing proposals from Saab-KAI and Boeing was influenced by operational suitability, lifecycle cost efficiency, and the level of domestic industrial participation. Two of the aircraft will be modified in the United States and Israel, while the remaining two will be converted in South Korea by Korean Air. This approach not only strengthens the local aerospace industry but also ensures technology transfer, maintenance capability, and long-term operational sustainability.
Financial considerations also played a significant role. Estimates for procuring four additional Boeing E-7 Wedgetail aircraft suggested costs of up to USD 4.9 billion, more than double the value of the L3Harris-IAI solution. By choosing a more cost-effective platform while maintaining advanced capabilities, South Korea demonstrates a strategic approach to defense modernization that balances operational needs, technology acquisition, and budgetary prudence.
The integration of the EL/W-2085 radar on the Global 6500 platform represents a leap in airborne early warning capabilities. The system provides precise tracking of multiple aerial and maritime targets, rapid threat assessment, and long-endurance operational flexibility. Combined with the domestic conversion of two aircraft, this program strengthens South Korea’s ability to respond to emerging challenges, ensures a high degree of national control over critical defense technology, and enhances overall regional deterrence.
By adopting these next-generation AEW&C aircraft, South Korea is not only modernizing its aerial surveillance fleet but also fostering domestic industrial expertise, enhancing operational efficiency, and securing a strategic advantage in an increasingly complex security environment.
✍️ This article is written by the team of The Defense News.