KAI Signs MOU with Israel's ELBIT for Next-Generation Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Cooperation

by Yoo Jaehoon

Published 14 Mar.2021 12:23(KST)

KAI and Elbit Jointly Promote Next-Generation Unmanned System Technology Development and Marketing

KAI Signs MOU with Israel's ELBIT for Next-Generation Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Cooperation

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced on the 14th that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 12th with Israel's Elbit Systems to cooperate on next-generation unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) projects.

Elbit is one of Israel's leading defense companies with advanced technologies in aviation, aerospace, and unmanned systems. Through this agreement, both companies will jointly promote the development of next-generation unmanned system technologies and marketing activities targeting domestic and international UAV markets.

The unmanned system technology enables flight control and autonomous flight through ground control centers, making it widely applicable not only to military aircraft but also to research on Personal Air Vehicles (PAV) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM), according to the company.

KAI has also accumulated capabilities related to unmanned systems and air mobility, having domestically deployed the military corps-level unmanned aerial vehicle Songgolmae for the first time, and participating in the development of next-generation corps-level unmanned systems, including fighter jets and helicopters.

In fact, KAI succeeded in autonomous flight of the vertical takeoff and landing UAV NI-600VT, developed through its own investment in 2019, and since the same year, has been participating in the development of a prototype and system for autonomous flight personal air vehicles (OPPAV) through the Korea Aerospace Research Institute's Industrial Technology Innovation Project. Additionally, KAI has begun research on unmanned versions of the FA-50 light attack aircraft and the Surion helicopter.

A KAI official stated, "Unmanned technology is a field expected to experience explosive growth," adding, "We will expand cooperation with domestic and international partners to pioneer both civilian and military markets simultaneously."