This year's Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition opened on Oct. 19 at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do Province. The photo shows F35A and KF-16 fighter jets putting on a congratulatory show in the skies over the base to mark the occasion. (Elias Molina)

By Lee Jihye and Yoon Hee Young

The 2021 Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition opened on Oct. 19 at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do Province.

Launched as the Seoul Air Show in 1996 and merging with an event for ground-based defense technology in 2009, the event is the nation's biggest trade exhibition for the aerospace and defense industries.

Through Oct. 23, 440 companies from 28 countries, the most in the exhibition's history, are showcasing state-of-the-art technologies in air and ground-based weapons.

The indoor exhibition shows new technology products scheduled for development such as large drones powered by hydrogen fuel, equipment for space development, multi-purpose manned and unmanned vehicles, and virtual reality-based training systems.

The outdoor exhibition highlights 45 military aircraft spanning 37 types such as the FA-50 and KT-1, the nation's top exports of their kind, and 34 ground-based weapons of 31 types such as the K-2 battle tank and K-9 howitzer, both of which have received global recognition. The display is for discussing the export of the weapons.

Approximately 300 high-ranking officials and generals from 45 countries, including ministers of defense, chiefs of staff and defense procurement executives, will attend the event.

The Ministry of National Defense said such officials are expected to discuss cooperation in defense diplomacy.

Figures from related sectors in industry, academia, think tanks and the military can enter from Oct. 19-22 and general admission comes on the 23rd.

Those who were fully vaccinated 14 days prior to the event or bring confirmation of a negative test result for COVID-19 taken within 72 hours of entry can enter the exhibition hall.

shaadiya1223@korea.kr