07. April 2026
Lig Defense Aerospace Unveils Stronger Footing In Us Market With Historic Subsidiary Establishment
Establishing a Stronger Bond: LIG Defense & Aerospace’s U.S. Subsidiary and Its Sea-Air-Space Debut
In a significant move to strengthen its ties with the American defense industrial base, South Korean defense technology company LIG Defense & Aerospace (formerly LIG Nex1) has established a new U.S. entity, LIG Defense U.S. Inc. This strategic initiative comes ahead of the firm’s planned participation in the upcoming Sea-Air-Space Exposition in National Harbor, Maryland, and marks an important step towards aligning the company’s capabilities with U.S. operational requirements and procurement priorities.
LIG Defense U.S. Reflects a Broader Effort to Expand Engagement
The new entity is designed to serve as LIG D&A’s primary interface with U.S. government and industry stakeholders, supporting potential partnerships, program alignment, and future investment in domestic production. By establishing a presence on both sides of the Pacific, LIG D&A aims to leverage its expertise in guided munitions and air defense systems to support the evolving needs of the U.S. Navy and other branches of the Department of Defense.
A Commitment to Partnership and Industrial Scalability
The creation of LIG Defense U.S. demonstrates LIG D&A’s commitment to becoming a genuine partner to the American defense industrial base – present, invested, and aligned with U.S. operational priorities for the long term. YS Kim, CEO & President of LIG Defense U.S., stated that “standing up LIG Defense U.S. reflects our commitment to becoming a genuine partner to the American defense industrial base – present, invested, and aligned with U.S. operational priorities for the long term.”
Distributed Lethality Concepts
LIG D&A will make its first appearance at Sea-Air-Space at booth #425, where it plans to display models of the “Poniard” 2.75-inch low-cost guided rocket and the Poniard Naval Launcher System (NLS). The system has been positioned as a potential option for distributed lethality concepts, particularly for integration on unmanned surface vessels and smaller platforms where cost, volume, and flexibility are key considerations.
Foreign Comparative Testing
LIG’s Poniard NLS on Textron’s CUSV at RIMPAC 24. (LIG D&A picture)
The company’s engagement with U.S. naval stakeholders builds in part on prior participation in the U.S. Navy’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, where its Poniard system underwent Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT). The effort resulted in U.S. certification, marking the first and to date, only instance of a South Korean guided munition achieving that designation.
A Holistic Approach to Engagement
LIG’s entry into the U.S. market comes at a time when the Navy and broader Department of Defense are examining ways to expand industrial capacity and diversify sources of supply, particularly for munitions and air and missile defense systems. The establishment of LIG Defense U.S. and LIG D&A’s participation at Sea-Air-Space suggest a holistic approach to that engagement, focused on collaboration, certification, and potential long-term investment.
Strategic Partnerships and Industry Alignment
To support its U.S. expansion, LIG Defense U.S. has appointed Vice Admiral Rich Brown (Ret.) as a senior advisor. Brown previously served as Commander of Naval Surface Forces and Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, where he oversaw the readiness, training, and operational performance of the Navy’s surface fleet.
A Shared Vision: Collaboration and Industrial Scalability
“Standing up LIG Defense U.S. is exactly the right time – a time when the United States must explore every avenue available to expand its arsenal of combat-proven, and affordable capabilities, backed by growing investments in U.S. manufacturing and production,” said VADM Rich Brown, USN (Ret.), Senior Advisor, LIG Defense U.S.
A New Era for American Sea Power
The establishment of LIG Defense U.S. and LIG D&A’s participation at Sea-Air-Space demonstrate a shared vision between the company and the U.S. Navy to support the evolving needs of American sea power. By leveraging its expertise in guided munitions and air defense systems, LIG D&A aims to contribute to the growth of the U.S. defense industrial base and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders.
Conclusion
The creation of LIG Defense U.S. marks an important milestone in LIG Defense & Aerospace’s efforts to establish a stronger bond with the American defense industrial base. As the company prepares for its Sea-Air-Space debut, it is clear that this new entity will play a critical role in supporting the evolving needs of the U.S. Navy and broader Department of Defense. With its commitment to partnership, industrial scalability, and collaboration, LIG D&A is poised to make a lasting impact on American sea power.