Korean Air Begins Research on Open UAV Platform for Multi-Mission Operations

Technology Development Agreement Signed with the Agency for Defense Development

Korean Air is advancing research on open unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) capable of managing and operating multiple pieces of equipment simultaneously to effectively carry out a variety of missions.

On December 16, Korean Air signed an agreement with the Agency for Defense Development on "Open UAV Platform Technology for Multi-Mission Equipment Operation." This agreement follows four months of discussions after Korean Air was selected as the preferred negotiation partner for this project by the Agency for Defense Development in August.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with Rapid Engine Replacement Applying Open Technology. Korean Air

Korean Air will conduct research and development on core technologies to maximize the operational utility of unmanned wingman aircraft until May 2029. The company aims to secure open technology that enables modularization and installation of mission-specific sensors and equipment. The research and development budget for this project is approximately 19.3 billion won.

This initiative is expected to serve as a practical application in the UAV sector of the Ministry of National Defense’s ongoing "K-MOSA (Korean Modular Open System Architecture)" policy, which seeks to rapidly deploy unmanned systems through standardized common architecture and modular development, and to maximize operational flexibility by enabling quick equipment replacement.

Defense contractors will be able to mass-produce standardized unmanned airframes and equipment quickly and at low cost, while operational units are expected to benefit from increased flexibility in force composition and smoother maintenance by easily swapping modularized equipment.

To effectively execute this project, Korean Air has formed a consortium with domestic UAV specialists such as LIG Nex1, RealTimeVisual, and MNC Solution. The consortium will also work on developing mission equipment, analyzing mission effectiveness, and creating electronic fastening devices.

In February, Korean Air rolled out its first prototype of a low-observable unmanned wingman aircraft, and the second prototype has completed final assembly and is undergoing follow-up work. The low-observable unmanned wingman, based on stealth technology that can evade radar detection, is a next-generation force system where a manned fighter and multiple UAVs form a formation to autonomously conduct reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and precision strike missions.

Through initial flight and verification tests scheduled for the first half of next year, the company aims to demonstrate manned-unmanned teaming flight operations by 2027, where both manned and unmanned aircraft operate together in formation.

A Korean Air representative stated, "We will develop open UAV platform technology in a timely manner to dramatically enhance the cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency of UAVs. By applying the K-MOSA-based open concept to the development of the unmanned wingman system, we aim to lead the paradigm of future air operations and contribute to the advancement of national defense autonomy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.