Washington: South Korean defense firm LIG Defense and Aerospace (D and A) Co. said Tuesday it has agreed with Germany's Rheinmetall to establish a strategic partnership aimed at supplying air defense systems to the European market.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the two companies signed a cooperation agreement during Eurosatory 2026, a major defense exhibition that opened Monday in France for a five-day run. Under the agreement, LIG D and A and Rheinmetall plan to establish a joint venture and deepen cooperation across research and development, marketing, business development, and localized production, the companies said.

As part of the partnership, LIG D and A and Rheinmetall will localize, further develop, and market LIG D and A's medium- and long-range air defense missile systems in Europe, combining them with Rheinmetall's expertise in very short-range air defense systems. "By combining our advanced, combat-proven missile technologies with Rheinmetall's extensive network and expertise, we will provide highly competitive and interoperable solutions for the European market, contributing to strengthening Europe's integrated air and missile defense capabilities," LIG D and A Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shin Ick-hyun said in a release.

LIG D and A, the developer of the Cheongung medium-range air defense system, has been expanding its presence in Europe and recently opened a European office in Munich, Germany, as part of its push into the region's growing defense market.