[2025 MADEX] Korean Air Makes Debut... Showcases Latest UAV Lineup

Showcasing Low-Observable Unmanned Swarm Aircraft
and AI-Powered Combat UAVs

Korean Air will participate in the International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition (MADEX) 2025 for the first time. At this exhibition, Korean Air will showcase its capabilities as a comprehensive unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems company and present its latest technologies related to UAV airframes.

Low-observable unmanned swarm aircraft equipped with Korean Air's proprietary technology. Korean Air

According to Korean Air on May 28, the company will take part in MADEX, which is being held at BEXCO in Busan for four days starting this day, to present its vision for future maritime UAVs and demonstrate its capabilities in military aircraft maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO). MADEX is the largest maritime defense industry exhibition in Korea, held every two years, and this is its 14th edition.

At the Korean Air booth, the company will display a low-observable unmanned swarm aircraft equipped with its proprietary technology, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered small cooperative combat UAV, a medium-altitude UAV, and a mock-up of the UH-60 helicopter. In particular, the low-observable unmanned swarm aircraft, which can perform various missions in collaboration with manned fighter jets, has had some of its capabilities improved so that it can also be operated from a naval unmanned aircraft carrier.

In February this year, Korean Air rolled out the first prototype of its low-observable unmanned swarm aircraft (LOWUS). This type of UAV forms a formation with manned fighter jets and autonomously carries out missions such as reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and attack.

Since 2021, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Korean Air have been developing airframe shaping technology that makes it difficult for enemy radar to detect the Kaori UAV. This low-observable design is commonly referred to as "stealth." To create a stealth airframe, all core technologies, including the application of radar-absorbing materials to the surface of the aircraft, have been incorporated.

Going forward, Korean Air plans to use the Kaori UAV to develop both an unmanned swarm aircraft and a stealth unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. The unmanned swarm aircraft is capable of "MUM-T" (manned-unmanned teaming) operations. Before sending a manned fighter jet into enemy territory, the stealth unmanned swarm aircraft will be deployed first. It can engage the enemy or conduct reconnaissance missions at the front lines. Naturally, this helps protect the lives of fighter pilots. Because the unmanned aircraft are deployed alongside manned aircraft, they can respond to sudden situations. The unmanned swarm aircraft is scheduled for its first flight this year, and in 2027, joint manned-unmanned operations with government-owned manned aircraft will be tested.

Unmanned Swarm Aircraft to Take First Flight This Year

Previously, in 2014, Korean Air developed the Kaori-X1 UAV. The Kaori-X1 is a scaled-down aircraft representing 46% of a large unmanned combat aircraft, measuring 10.4 meters in length, 14.8 meters in wingspan, and weighing 10 tons. The Kaori-X1 demonstrated the potential for unmanned combat aircraft development by flying 50 kilometers in 1 hour and 30 minutes. Korean Air plans to develop the attack-type unmanned combat aircraft Kaori-X2 next. It is called a "mini B-2 bomber" because it can be equipped with Korean medium-range guided bombs. To carry weapons, it is expected to be fitted with a 5,500-pound-class turbofan engine for stealth UAVs currently under development. In comparison, the engines of stealth unmanned combat aircraft being developed by the United States and others are in the 10,000-pound class.

Korean Air to Develop Hypersonic Materials

Korean Air also plans to develop a "stealth unmanned reconnaissance aircraft" based on Kaori UAV technology. The company aims to create a Korean version of the U.S. 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 a synthetic aperture radar, enabling it to penetrate deep into North Korean airspace and conduct reconnaissance missions at any time.

To achieve this, Korean Air plans to develop high-temperature-resistant and radar-absorbing materials for hypersonic vehicles. Hypersonic vehicles can reach speeds of up to Mach 9 (about 11,000 km/h) or more. At such speeds, the front of the vehicle is exposed to temperatures exceeding 2,000 degrees Celsius. If the vehicle cannot withstand this heat, it will melt before reaching its destination. This is why high-temperature-resistant and radar-absorbing materials are essential for hypersonic vehicles.

Preparing for Next-Generation Businesses such as Military Aircraft MRO

Korean Air will also showcase its technological expertise in military aircraft MRO, a business it has continued since 1978. Since 1997, Korean Air has accumulated know-how in the naval sector by performing depot-level maintenance on the Navy's LYNX, P-3C, and F-406 aircraft, and last month, it won the contract for the performance upgrade project of the UH-60 "Black Hawk" helicopter, a key asset of the Korean military.

A Korean Air representative stated, "While presenting a vision for future maritime UAVs with customized solutions tailored to the Navy, we also plan to prepare for a new leap forward based on our know-how in depot-level maintenance (the highest level of maintenance, involving complete disassembly and reassembly of the airframe) and performance upgrades for fighter jets."

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