First Northrop Grumman UAV parts made in South Korea

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman corporate officials and industrial partners in South Korea celebrated the first unmanned aerial vehicle component parts manufactured in the country on Thursday.

The company officials met during the Seoul International Aerospace Defense Exhibition (ADEX), an industrial aerospace and defense exhibition showcasing around 400 firms. Firstec and Korea Jig and Fixtures displayed component parts for the RQ-4 Global Hawk, an unmanned aerial vehicle designed for high-altitutde, long-endurance intelligence and reconnaissance operations.

For the program, Korea Jib and Fixtures creates build-to-print aerospace-grade machine parts while Firstec builds wire harnesses. U.S.-based Northrop Grumman, one of the world's largest defense contractors, signed a memorandum of understanding with both companies to support the Global Hawk in 2013, with the final production of the aircraft taking place in California. Northrop Grumman vice president and program manager for the Global Hawk Mick Jaggers says the program has been beneficial for all parties involved.

"Northrop Grumman is focused on providing superior and affordable technology and expertise to the Republic of Korea," Jaggers said. "We seek to strengthen and develop the future economy of Korea by leveraging local industrial talent and resources in ways that build a more capable, competitive supply chain."

The Global Hawk is designed for both wartime and peacetime missions, providing close to real-time coverage using imagery intelligence, signals intelligence and a moving target indicator.