(LEAD) S. Korea's major defense exhibition kicks off with air show

▲ The Air Force's Black Eagles acrobatic team performs at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, during the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition on Oct. 17, 2025. (Yonhap)

▲ Visitors take a look around aircraft displayed at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition 2025 at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, on Oct. 17, 2025. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) defense exhibition-opening

(LEAD) S. Korea's major defense exhibition kicks off with air show

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By Kim Hyun-soo

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's international defense exhibition kicked off Friday with an air show by the Air Force, with a record number of companies set to showcase advanced military technologies for this year's event.

The Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2025,which will run through next Friday, opened at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of Seoul. The second segment of the event will take place at KINTEX in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul, starting Monday.

ADEX is South Korea's largest aerospace and defense trade exhibition, designed to boost export opportunities for domestic defense products and promote technology exchanges with global manufacturers.

The official opening ceremony for the exhibition will take place Monday at KINTEX after three-day public events that will run from Friday at Seoul Air Base.

Commemorating the ADEX opening, the South Korean Air Force showed off a decorative aerial performance using its key assets, including U.S. F-35 fighter jets, and F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets.

The performance was followed by a flight demonstration by homegrown T-50TH fighters and the KF-21 under development.

The Air Force's Black Eagles aerobatic team flew across the sky, leaving traces of colorful shades in the sky to complete the festivities.

This year, a record 600 companies from 35 countries are expected to showcase advanced military hardware and technologies at the exhibition, according to organizers. In 2023, some 550 companies participated in the biennial event.

The indoor exhibition space at KINTEX has been expanded 58 percent this year, compared with the 2023 event, and will house around 2,900 booths.

An exhibition area dedicated to displaying new technologies was established for the first time, showcasing a replica of a reusable launch vehicle, cutting-edge satellite communication and a real-life model of an advanced air mobility vehicle.

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