South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced Thursday that it held a rollout ceremony for the first mass-produced Medium-Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MUAV) at Korean Air's Tech Center in Busan.
The MUAV is Korea's first strategic-class unmanned aircraft, developed and manufactured by Korean Air, LIG D&A, and Hanwha Systems under the supervision of DAPA and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD). The drone can conduct reconnaissance on ground targets from an altitude of 10 to 12 kilometers, with a radar detection range of up to 100 kilometers.
Once deployed to the military, the MUAV will provide Korea with an independent capability to monitor and respond to enemy strategic targets in real time through high-performance cameras and sensors, DAPA explained.
DAPA approved a mass production plan for the MUAV with a total project budget of 980 billion won ($726 million) through 2028 and commenced mass production in December 2023. The MUAV will undergo Air Force acceptance tests before being delivered sequentially to the military starting in 2027.
"The MUAV will dramatically enhance our military's surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, strengthen the foundation for self-reliant national defense, and contribute to elevating Korea to a leading aviation industry power," DAPA Administrator Lee Yong-chul said at the ceremony.