[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] The Unmanned Combat Aircraft to Fly with the KF-21

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] With the successful first flight of the Korean fighter jet (KF-21) ‘Boramae,’ attention is focusing on the development of manned-unmanned combined combat systems. If unmanned fighter jets are deployed to fly alongside manned fighters, not only combat power but also the pilots' lives can be safeguarded.

Countries around the world, including the United States, are rushing to develop unmanned wingmen. In December 2020, the U.S. Air Force conducted a flight test at the Yuma Test Center in Arizona with the low-cost unmanned combat aerial vehicle XQ-58A ‘Valkyrie’ flying alongside the stealth fighters F-22 ‘Raptor’ and F-35 ‘Lightning II.’ The test aimed to verify whether the XQ-58 could communicate properly with the F-22 and F-35. In the future, the Valkyrie is expected to take the lead in entering enemy territory for reconnaissance or attack missions ahead of the F-22 and F-35.

The project duration varies depending on the block referring to the fighter jet version. The KF-21 system development (Block I) is being developed from 2015 to 2026 with an investment of 8.1 trillion KRW in partnership with Indonesia. Subsequently, an additional weapons test (Block II) will be pursued solely by Korea from 2026 to 2028 with an investment of 700 billion KRW. The manned-unmanned combined combat system is expected to follow after Block II.

Korean Air is responsible for the unmanned aircraft that will fly alongside the KF-21. In 2014, Korean Air developed the unmanned aircraft Gaori-X1. The Gaori-X1 is a scaled-down version at 46% size of a large unmanned combat aircraft, measuring 10.4 meters in length, 14.8 meters in wingspan, and weighing 10 tons. The Gaori-X1 flew 50 km in 1 hour and 30 minutes, opening the possibility for unmanned combat aircraft development.

Korean Air plans to develop ‘unmanned wingmen’ and ‘stealth unmanned reconnaissance aircraft’ using the Gaori-X1. The unmanned wingmen will have a manned-unmanned cooperative function called ‘Multi.’ Before sending a manned fighter into enemy territory, stealth unmanned wingmen will take the lead. They can engage in combat or perform reconnaissance missions ahead of the main force. Protecting the lives of fighter pilots is a given. Since unmanned aircraft are deployed simultaneously with manned aircraft, they can respond to sudden situations. The unmanned wingmen are scheduled for their first flight in 2025, and in 2027, joint manned-unmanned operations with government-owned manned aircraft will be tested.

The attack-type unmanned combat aircraft is the Gaori-X2. It can be equipped with Korean mid-range guided bombs and is called a ‘mini B-2 bomber.’ To carry weapons, it is expected to be equipped with a 5,500-pound class turbofan engine currently under development for stealth unmanned aircraft. Stealth unmanned combat aircraft being developed by the U.S. and others are equipped with 10,000-pound class engines.

Korean Air also plans to develop a ‘stealth unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.’ This aims to create a Korean version of the U.S.-operated stealth unmanned combat aircraft X-47B and the RQ-180 stealth reconnaissance aircraft. The stealth unmanned reconnaissance aircraft will be equipped with electro-optical infrared detection equipment and synthetic aperture radar, enabling it to penetrate deep into North Korean airspace and conduct reconnaissance missions at any time.

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