Korean Air Wins 'Broadband Low-Detectability Drone Technology Research' Project

Development of Surface Current Control Technology

Low Radar Cross Section Stealth Technology Demonstration Aircraft

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Korean Air announced on the 30th that it has secured a research project on broadband low-observable technology from the Agency for Defense Development and will participate in the government’s low-observable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) project until 2025.

The Agency for Defense Development recently selected Korean Air as the preferred negotiation partner for the ‘Broadband Low-Observable UAV Airframe Structure Technology Research’ project.

The broadband low-observable technology research project involves applying the latest low-observable technology, which is difficult to detect by radar, to next-generation unmanned aerial vehicles. It aims to develop high-performance radio wave absorption structures and surface current control technologies to be applied to actual unmanned aerial vehicles.

Prior to this research, Korean Air participated as a prototype manufacturer in the low-observable UAV development project led by the Agency for Defense Development from 2010 until August of this year, already gaining recognition for its technological capabilities.

During the five-year project from 2010, Korean Air supported the production of a low-observable tailless unmanned wing technology test vehicle and radar cross-section (RCS) measurement tests, successfully achieving the first domestic test flight. From 2013 to 2016, it enhanced radar cross-section performance using multifunctional composite materials. Additionally, in the research continuing from 2016 to recently, it participated in core technology tasks applying high-performance radio wave absorption structures to the aircraft.

Korean Air has focused on advancing stealth technology, including over ten years of unmanned aerial vehicle design and manufacturing, and its related technological capabilities are already evaluated to be applicable to future stealth UAV system development projects.

Korean Air stated, "We plan to actively engage in the development of future advanced weapon systems to secure a leading position in the stealth UAV market."

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