[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] An AI Royal Wingman Has Appeared in the Sky

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Interest is growing in the ‘MUM-T’ (Manned-Unmanned Teaming) system, a combined manned-unmanned operation system, as a domestic light armed helicopter (LAH) is set to carry unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). MUM-T refers to the concept where a manned aircraft piloted by a human and an unmanned aircraft without a pilot operate as a team to carry out missions.

This is also why Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for cooperation on MUM-T.

KAI plans to develop the system to the level where a canister (launcher)-type drone is loaded inside the manned helicopter’s internal space, autonomously flies, and is capable of information gathering and striking using an optical tracker embedded in the drone. The manned-unmanned combined operation system is expected to maximize combat effectiveness with fewer personnel and costs, and is anticipated to have high future growth potential linked to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The MUM-T concept, which emerged in the early 2000s, is already a realized tactical weapon in advanced countries. During the Afghanistan war, the U.S. Air Force applied a data link that allowed real-time data sharing between the ground attack aircraft AC-130 gunship and the armed reconnaissance surveillance UAV MQ-1C Predator, conducting team-based operations. In this first MUM-T operation, the Predator transmitted video footage captured by its sensors to the AC-130 in real time, enabling the AC-130 to accurately strike important targets based on this video data.

The U.S. Air Force is currently developing the ‘Loyal Wingman.’ It is a loyal escort aircraft designed to perform dangerous missions on behalf of pilots while operating alongside 6th generation fighters. The Loyal Wingman is characterized by AI control and the ability to operate as a team with other aircraft.

The attack helicopter AH-64 Apache has formed a team with the armed reconnaissance surveillance UAV MQ-1C Gray Eagle. The Gray Eagle is deployed first in the operational area to collect various information and transmit it to the Apache in real time.

The Russian Air Force is also expected to receive the Loyal Wingman, the S-70 Okhotnik-B, in 2024. The S-70, estimated to be 14 meters long, with a wingspan of 20 meters and weighing about 20 tons, will operate alongside the 5th generation fighter Su-57, expanding detection range and using stealth capabilities for covert infiltration to transmit target information, effectively acting as a hunting dog for the Su-57 fighter.

The Royal Australian Air Force recently completed the first flight of the Loyal Wingman ATS (Airpower Teaming System), developed in partnership with Boeing. Australia’s Loyal Wingman is expected to autonomously perform missions based on AI once the manned aircraft issues mission commands.

The Loyal Wingman drone is 11.7 meters long, smaller than typical fighters but larger than the 8.5-meter MQ-1C Gray Eagle. Its range reaches 3,700 km, sufficient for joint operations with most fighters. Although its top speed has not been disclosed, it is expected to be similar to or slightly slower than the latest fighters.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.