LIG Defense Establishes U.S. Subsidiary, Taps Former Navy Vice Admiral to Spearhead American Market Entry

LIG Defense & Aerospace has established its first U.S. subsidiary, a strategic move to directly enter the world's largest defense market.

This decision follows the successful U.S. performance testing of its Poniard guided rocket and recent partnerships with major U.S. firms like Honeywell and Shield AI.

The U.S. entity aims to navigate complex procurement regulations and leverage U.S.-ROK defense cooperation policies to secure contracts and expand its presence.

LIG Defense & Aerospace has officially established its first U.S. subsidiary, marking a pivotal step to transform from a foreign supplier into an embedded competitor in the American defense market.

This move is not a sudden leap but a calculated step built on a foundation of recent successes. The journey began with tangible proof of performance. LIG's 70mm guided rocket, the Poniard (known as 'Bigung' in Korea), successfully completed the U.S. Department of Defense's rigorous Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) during the RIMPAC 2024 exercise. Passing this test was a critical validation, confirming that the product meets demanding U.S. operational standards and signaling a strong mission fit.

Building on this technical validation, LIG forged key strategic alliances. First, a partnership with Shield AI to integrate LIG's missile data link onto the U.S.-made V-BAT drone created a direct channel for technology collaboration. Second, a broader memorandum of understanding (MoU) with aerospace giant Honeywell opened doors for cooperation in unmanned systems, space, and cyber defense. These partnerships created a clear need for a local presence to manage complex logistics, navigate U.S. export control regulations like ITAR, and facilitate smoother collaboration.

Finally, this corporate strategy aligns perfectly with government policy. Both the U.S. and South Korean governments have repeatedly called for deeper defense-industrial integration. Policy dialogues like the Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) emphasize creating an 'integrated industrial base' and ensuring reciprocal market access. LIG's U.S. subsidiary is a direct response to this policy tailwind, positioning the company to take full advantage of the strengthening alliance.

In essence, establishing a U.S. entity is the final piece of the puzzle. It turns the Poniard's FCT success and recent partnerships into a concrete commercialization strategy. The subsidiary will serve as the operational beachhead to navigate procurement rules, such as the Buy American Act, and convert promising opportunities into sustained revenue within the world's most significant defense market.

Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT): A U.S. Department of Defense program to test and evaluate items and technologies from foreign allies that have a high technology readiness level, potentially saving the U.S. taxpayer the cost of developing a similar system.
ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations): A set of U.S. government regulations that control the export and import of defense-related articles and services on the United States Munitions List.
Buy American Act: A U.S. law that requires the federal government to prefer U.S.-made products in its purchases. Certain international agreements, like those with 'designated countries' such as South Korea, can provide waivers.

LIG Defense Establishes U.S. Subsidiary, Taps Former Navy Vice Admiral to Spearhead American Market Entry

LIG Defense & Aerospace has established its first U.S. subsidiary, a strategic move to directly enter the world's largest defense market.

This decision follows the successful U.S. performance testing of its Poniard guided rocket and recent partnerships with major U.S. firms like Honeywell and Shield AI.

The U.S. entity aims to navigate complex procurement regulations and leverage U.S.-ROK defense cooperation policies to secure contracts and expand its presence.

LIG Defense & Aerospace has officially established its first U.S. subsidiary, marking a pivotal step to transform from a foreign supplier into an embedded competitor in the American defense market.

Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT): A U.S. Department of Defense program to test and evaluate items and technologies from foreign allies that have a high technology readiness level, potentially saving the U.S. taxpayer the cost of developing a similar system.
ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations): A set of U.S. government regulations that control the export and import of defense-related articles and services on the United States Munitions List.
Buy American Act: A U.S. law that requires the federal government to prefer U.S.-made products in its purchases. Certain international agreements, like those with 'designated countries' such as South Korea, can provide waivers.