Big Four signed only six overseas contracts above 100 billion won in January-October 2026, about 4.4 trillion won; Hyundai Rotem and KAI none

The Public reported on October 22, 2026 that Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem, LIG D&A and KAI together signed six overseas weapons contracts worth 100 billion won or more in the first ten months of 2026, totalling about 4.4 trillion won, against roughly 17 trillion won for the four firms in all of 2025. Hanwha Aerospace accounted for five of the six, centred on K9 howitzers and Chunmoo launchers including the April Finland K9 follow-on, and LIG D&A for one, the roughly 140 billion won Haegung ship-to-air missile export to Malaysia. Hyundai Rotem has no large overseas booking as its Peru K2 follow-on is delayed by budget and political conditions, and KAI has none since the 2025 Philippine order for 12 FA-50s. The article flags the LIG D&A bidding ban as a constraint on domestic programs such as the 1.9 trillion won KF-21 long-range air-to-air missile, notes that KAI lost last year helicopter upgrade and electronic warfare competitions, and attributes the slowdown to easing post-Ukraine demand as European states expand their own production and to heavy reliance on the K2, K9 and Chunmoo, urging diversification into unmanned and AI-based systems.