Home > Business > Industry

LIG Nex1, Palantir Technologies partner to integrate advanced defense solutions for UAE

Published: 25 Mar. 2026, 17:40 Updated: 25 Mar. 2026, 18:06

CHO YONG-JUN
[email protected]

LIG Nex1 CEO Shin Ick-hyun, right, and Palantir Technologies Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Legal Officer Ryan Taylor pose for a photo at Palantir's Palo Alto office on March 24. [LIG NEX1]

LIG Nex1 has partnered with Palantir Technologies to integrate advanced defense solutions for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as cooperation deepens between the Korean defense firm and the UAE amid the Iran war.

LIG Nex1 signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S.-based data analytics software company at Palantir’s Palo Alto office in California on Tuesday.

The MOU isdesigned to combine LIG Nex1’s defense technical expertise with Palantir’s datasolutions to develop integrated air defense and unmanned systems.

LIG Nex1 isthe system manufacturer of the medium-range surface-to-air missile system Cheongung, which was exported to the UAE.

“Based on atotal solution that includes precision-guided munitions, unmanned systems,surveillance and reconnaissance systems, LIG Nex1 has been striving to modernizeand advance the defense capabilities of Korea,” LIG Nex1 CEO Shin Ick-hyun said.

“I hope this expanded partnership between LIG Nex1 and Palantir willstrengthen our defense R&D [research and defense] capabilities and further enhance our globalcompetitiveness.”

LIG Nex1's move comes as other Korean defense firms are also looking to expand into the European market. Hanwha Aerospace signed an MOU with Spain's Indra Group for the modernization of self-propelled howitzers.

Hanwha Aerospace, the maker of K9 self-propelled howitzers, will be providing the platform technologies to Indra Group and have the Spanish firm build the frame, communications and control systems for the Spanish Army.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [[email protected]]