Korean Air (003490.KS) held a rollout ceremony for the first medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (MUAV), Korea's first strategic-class drone, at its Tech Center in Gangseo-gu, Busan, the company said Wednesday.
The ceremony marked the first public unveiling of the MUAV's first production unit, followed by a progress report on the project, system briefings, and a tour of the displayed equipment.
The rolled-out aircraft measures 13 meters in length and 26 meters in wingspan, equipped with a 1,200-horsepower turboprop engine. The medium-altitude drone can conduct reconnaissance of ground targets while flying at altitudes above 10 kilometers. Once deployed, the MUAV is expected to enhance rapid operational command capabilities by providing real-time imagery of enemy strategic targets.
Korean Air led the system development and integration of the first production MUAV, incorporating key components developed by domestic defense companies including LIG D&A and Hanwha Systems (272210.KS). The company built an efficient integrated operational system by combining numerous subsystems—including ground control systems, data links, advanced detection sensors, and avionics equipment—into a single cohesive unit.
Korean Air completed production, including airframe integration and painting, in February and began full-scale flight testing last month. System equipment integration tests and flight tests are scheduled for July at the operational unit. Following completion of all verification processes, the aircraft will be delivered to the Air Force in early next year for deployment in actual surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
"We will continue to work closely with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the Air Force, and the Agency for Defense Development for successful project execution," a Korean Air official said. "As the MUAV system integrator, we will do our best to meet the Air Force's deployment schedule."