According to Yonhap News,

(SEOUL=Yonhap News) Korean Air Lines Co. has signed a deal to partner with Boeing Co. to cooperate on technology in upgrading the CH-47 Chinook helicopter, the company said Thursday.

The Korean flag carrier and the U.S. aircraft manufacturer signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the partnership at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2017 being held in Seongnam, just south of the capital city, Korean Air said in a statement.

ADEX, which is held every other year, started on Tuesday and runs until Sunday.

South Korea's Army and Air Force currently operate the American twin-engine, tandem-rotor, heavy-lift helicopter for various missions, including search and rescue operations.

Under the MOU, the two companies are expected to join the bid to upgrade the American-made helicopters operated by the Korean military and to advance to overseas markets to win other upgrade projects, the statement said.

Korean Air, the only airline which runs a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for military aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region, has been involved in MRO projects for 4,300 aircraft belonging to the Korean and U.S. military, it said.

In this photo taken Oct. 19, 2017, and provided by Korean Air Lines, Kim In-hwa, senior vice president of Korean Air's aerospace division, (3rd from left) and Howard Berry, sales director of Boeing's global services, (3rd from right) pose for a photo with other officials after signing an MOU at Seoul International ADEX 2017 in Seongnam, south of Seoul. (Yonhap)

kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr

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