Korean Air to develop broadband stealth UAV technology

Korean Air finalised its agreement with the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement (KRIT) to research and develop technology for broadband stealth unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), after three months of discussions.

Through the agreement that will run until 2025, Korean Air will research the application of high-performance low-observable technology to next-generation UAVs. The airline has also formed a consortium with six Korean institutions specialising in low-observable technology, including KETI (Korea Electronics Technology Institute) and Inha University, to develop materials for radio wave absorption and surface current control.

Korean Air participated in Korea's Agency for Defense Development's low-observable UAV development project from 2010 to August 2021, and was recognised for its core technological competencies such as the reduction of a UAV's radar cross section with multifunctional composite materials and application of high-performance radar absorbing structures to UAVs.

The company has been designing and manufacturing UAVs, conducting test flights, and developing stealth aircraft technologies for more than a decade. With its experience and technology in system development of medium-altitude UAVs and military UAVs, Korean Air also plans to develop stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV).