[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Gwangju City is partnering with domestic defense companies to develop a drone capable of carrying a 200kg payload.
On the 14th, Gwangju City signed a business agreement to develop a 200kg-class cargo drone with LIG Nex1, Hize Aviation, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), Taekyung Electronics, Korea Aircraft Technology (KAT), the Army Special Warfare Command, and the 31st Infantry Division.
Gwangju City views this project as a breakthrough in unmanned aerial vehicle technology and a step forward in advancing the urban air mobility era, forming a consortium of top institutions in each field. Participating organizations and companies agreed to collaborate on core technology development, establishing policies, systems, and infrastructure for certification and demonstration, and discovering joint research projects.
To overcome the operational time limitations of existing drones, the plan is to commercialize technology based on eco-friendly hydrogen fuel cells with high energy density.
Gwangju City has previously designated the drone industry as one of its 11 strategic industries, established drone flight practice fields and the Onbitnuri Drone Center, and signed a business agreement in August 2019 to foster defense drones.
Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju, stated, "The technology secured through this project can be utilized as a core technology for transitioning to the urban air mobility era, including drone taxis and flying cars. Gwangju, aiming to be an AI-centered city, will do its best to lead the drone and unmanned aerial vehicle sectors, which are the trends of the 4th Industrial Revolution era."
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