Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer and South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) have agreed to expand cooperation in defense manufacturing, technology exchange, and market development.
The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding that aims to identify new business opportunities and strengthen industrial ties between Brasília and Seoul.
It also seeks to help Korean defense firms enter Embraer’s global supply chain while supporting South Korea’s push to boost defense exports.
Air Force Brigadier General Kang Joong-hee, DAPA’s Aircraft Business Division Director, said the cooperation marks a shift from a “simple buyer-seller relationship” to a model of “mutual growth.”
The agreement builds on an existing relationship between DAPA and Embraer, which deepened after Seoul selected Embraer’s C-390 Millennium transport aircraft in 2023 for its Large Transport Aircraft program.
The aircraft will serve the Republic of Korea Air Force with customized configurations and training support.
DAPA’s Role in South Korea’s Defense Modernization
DAPA is the South Korean government agency responsible for managing military procurements and promoting the country’s defense industry abroad.
In recent years, it has become a key driver of South Korea’s rise as a major global arms exporter.
Under DAPA’s oversight, South Korea has secured large-scale export deals for K2 Black Panther tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, and FA-50 light fighters with countries such as Poland, Egypt, and the Philippines.
Earlier in 2025, DAPA also launched a partnership with Hanwha Aerospace and Norway’s Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace to co-develop new missile systems.
