Korean Air announced Thursday that it is accelerating the development of next-generation, AI-powered high-speed target drones, following the successful completion of a key system requirements review.
The review, held Wednesday at the Daejeon Convention Center, included participation from key figures at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the Republic of Korea Navy, the Republic of Korea Air Force, and the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement.
This milestone marks significant progress, occurring just four months after Korean Air was awarded a project by DAPA to replace imported target drones with domestically produced alternatives.
The high-speed target UAV currently in development is engineered to achieve speeds of up to Mach 0.6 – approximately 735 kilometers per hour – making it the fastest system of its kind in South Korea.
Recognizing the technical challenges associated with high-speed flight control, Korean Air plans to leverage its established expertise in uncrewed aerial systems to finalize a prototype and conduct its initial flight test by next year.
Korean Air intends to integrate cutting-edge AI capabilities to facilitate swarm control and enhance mission autonomy, ultimately improving operational effectiveness during both training exercises and real-world combat scenarios.
Furthermore, the UAV will feature a modular, open-architecture design, enabling the flexible installation and operation of mission-specific sensors and equipment, thereby improving both cost efficiency and adaptability.
Korean Air is aiming for deployment-ready systems by 2028, positioning the program as a cornerstone for the military’s broader strategy of integrating crewed-uncrewed teaming and small collaborative drone operations.
“The synergy between high-speed uncrewed aircraft design and AI technology is crucial for K-defense to gain a competitive advantage in the global market,” a Korean Air official stated.
The company further emphasized its commitment to localizing high-speed target UAV systems ahead of the original schedule to strengthen South Korea’s overall defense capabilities.
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