Drones Entering Enemy Territory Before Pilots

MUM-T Integrating Helicopters, Fighter Jets, and Drones Expected as Early as 2025

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] According to the roadmap for manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), a domestically produced ‘manned-unmanned helicopter squadron’ is expected to be developed after 2025.

Jung Jin-yeon, a senior researcher at the Agency for Defense Development, presented the ‘Current Status of Intelligent Swarm UAV Technology Development’ linked with the 4th Industrial Revolution technologies at the seminar on ‘Helicopter Manned-Unmanned Teaming System and Helicopter Force Development Plan,’ proposing key technologies necessary for the manned-unmanned teaming system and detailed implementation plans to realize it.

At the event, Researcher Jung said, “The ‘Helicopter-UAV Interoperability System Project’ is expected to be completed after 2025,” adding, “The initial flight of the UAV will be possible by July next year.”

Countries around the world, including the United States, are also racing to develop unmanned squadron aircraft. 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’ alongside 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 U.S. Forces Korea have already deployed joint operations involving the Apache Guardian (AH-64E) attack helicopter and the unmanned reconnaissance and attack aircraft ‘Gray Eagle-ER (Extended Range).’

Twelve Gray Eagles are stationed and operated at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. They are utilized for MUM-T, with Apache helicopter pilots remotely controlling the Gray Eagles. Using information received from the Gray Eagle’s sensors, targets that cannot be aimed at individually can be attacked. The maximum remote control distance from the Apache helicopter to the Gray Eagle is known to be up to 110 km.

The Gray Eagle-ER is an upgraded version of the existing Gray Eagle. Compared to the original Gray Eagle, the Gray Eagle-ER has approximately 50% increased flight time and armament capacity, as well as the capability to guide anti-ship ballistic missiles capable of destroying North Korean naval vessels.

The Gray Eagle-ER is a modified version of the Gray Eagle unmanned attack aircraft (MQ-1C) and can fly for more than 40 hours. Its armaments include Hellfire missiles capable of attacking enemy tanks about 8 km away and the latest small precision-guided bomb GBU-44/B ‘Viper Strike,’ with a total payload capacity of about 1 ton of bombs and missiles. It has a wingspan of 17.4 m, length of 8.1 m, maximum speed of 280 km/h, and maximum takeoff weight of 1,890 kg. Additionally, it is equipped with the Lynx Block 30A long-range radar and Synthetic Aperture Radar/Ground Moving Target Indicator (SAR/GMTI), enabling detection of targets up to 75 km away.

Domestic defense company Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is also building a system for the ‘Surion helicopter-UAV’ by directly controlling and managing UAVs on the domestically produced Surion utility helicopter, providing real-time UAV video information to pilots to expand operational range for long-distance reconnaissance and strikes.

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

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

Korean Air plans to further develop ‘unmanned squadron aircraft’ and ‘stealth unmanned reconnaissance aircraft’ using the Gaori-X1. The unmanned squadron aircraft will have cooperative manned-unmanned functions called ‘Meomti.’ Before a manned fighter penetrates enemy territory, the stealth unmanned squadron will advance first. They can engage in combat or reconnaissance missions ahead of the manned aircraft. Protecting the life of the fighter pilot is a given. Since unmanned aircraft are deployed simultaneously with manned aircraft, they can respond to sudden situations. The unmanned squadron is scheduled for its first flight in 2025, and in 2027, joint manned-unmanned operations with government-owned manned aircraft will be tested.

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