This photo, provided by Korean Air Lines Co., shows a concept image of an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) formation.
SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — Korean Air Lines Co. said Tuesday it has been chosen as a preferred bidder for spearheading the development of low-observable, formation-flying unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) by the state-run military research agency.
The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) recently finished the basic design for the formation-flying, unmanned aircraft after the project began last November. Korean Air will team up with the agency to produce a detailed design.
The company plans to develop a special system that allows low-observable UCAVs to fly in formation with a combination of manned and unmanned aircraft.
Every three or four UCAVs will be in charge of assisting and escorting a single manned aircraft, while simultaneously engaging in autonomous missions including surveillance, electromagnetic disruption, and surgical strikes.
Korean Air has been jointly developing South Korea’s first low-observable UAV with the agency since 2010, carrying out a successful test of a tailless aircraft.
Last year, the national flag carrier was selected for the development of broadband, low-observable UAVs at the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology, Planning and Advancement.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
