LIG D&A partners with drone AI firm to target global integrated air defense market

LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) said Friday it recently signed a memorandum of understanding with NearLab, a drone AI company specializing in autonomous flight guidance technology, to build a cooperative framework in the interceptor drone sector. The signing took place at 2Pangyo House.

The agreement aims to combine LIG D&A's world-class integrated air defense system integration capabilities with NearLab's AI software and autonomous flight-based interceptor drone technology.

The two companies previously co-exhibited a counter-drone hard-kill system at ADEX 2025 last year. Building on the MOU, they plan to deepen cooperation across rapid prototype programs for counter-drone hard-kill close-protection systems, development of interceptor drone variants for counter-drone use, and both domestic and export-oriented interceptor drone projects.

"NearLab's partnership will serve as an innovative driver to accelerate future growth as LIG D&A embarks on its journey to become a comprehensive aerospace and defense company under a new name this year," LIG D&A CEO Shin Ik-hyeon said. "Through this collaboration, we will secure unrivaled competitiveness in the counter-drone interception sector within the global integrated air defense market."

NearLab CEO Choi Jae-hyeok said the partnership carries a great sense of responsibility. "By adding NearLab's AI interceptor drone capabilities to LIG D&A's integrated air defense systems, we will successfully bring a combat-ready, integrated counter-drone solution to the global market," he said.

Meanwhile, LIG D&A has been collaborating with a range of companies to strengthen its integrated air defense competitiveness. In March, it signed an MOU with US firm Palantir to cooperate on developing integrated air defense and unmanned systems solutions.