First Mass-Produced Domestic Medium-Altitude Drone Readies for Combat Deployment

The first domestically-produced MUAV has been rolled out. A ceremony was held on the 8th at Korean Air's Tech Center in Busan, marking the official start of preparations for its combat deployment.

Recent conflicts in the Middle East have unfolded in a manner that involves swiftly identifying the positions and troop strengths of enemy commanders before conducting precision strikes, highlighting the critical role of reconnaissance drones in this process.

The first domestically-produced MUAV measures 13 meters in length and has a wingspan of 26 meters, powered by a 1,200-horsepower turboprop engine. It can survey ground targets from altitudes above 10km. Unlike overseas models that combine reconnaissance with strike capabilities, the domestic MUAV features a design specialized purely for reconnaissance missions.

In this project, Korean Air integrated key components developed by domestic defense companies such as LIG D&A and Hanwha Systems to establish the operational system.

The first unit is scheduled to undergo system equipment integration tests and flight tests with its operational unit in July. Following verification through flight tests, it is planned to be delivered to the Air Force in early next year for active deployment in surveillance and reconnaissance missions.