Park Jung-woo, Head of Aerospace Business Division at Korean Air (left), and Randy Rotte, Director of Overseas Sales Asia-Pacific at Boeing (right), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for tactical vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle technology cooperation on the 21st and are taking a commemorative photo.
[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Korean Air will jointly develop advanced vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with Boeing.
Korean Air announced on the 22nd that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Boeing Insitu at the '2021 Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Industry Exhibition' (ADEX 2021) for technological cooperation on tactical VTOL UAVs. Founded in 1994, Insitu is Boeing's UAV-specialized subsidiary and developed the UAV 'ScanEagle' currently operated by the U.S. Department of Defense.
The two companies agreed to mutually cooperate to develop lighter and modular tactical VTOL UAVs. By combining Korean Air's accumulated UAV development technology with Insitu's high-performance mission equipment for UAVs and optimized UAV systems, both companies expect to maximize synergy effects.
Korean Air is leading the domestic UAV sector based on world-class UAV development capabilities. It possesses platforms such as division-level UAVs deployed for reconnaissance missions, 5-ton class high-performance strategic UAVs, tiltrotor UAVs, low-observable UAVs, multipurpose unmanned helicopters, and hybrid drones. Among these, the division-level UAV was recently selected as one of the 'Top 15 Industrial Technology Achievements of 2021' by the Korean Academy of Engineering, recognizing its technological excellence.
The company is currently developing a VTOL UAV using the 'lift and cruise' method. Lift and cruise equips separate rotors for takeoff and flight, enabling vertical takeoff and landing as well as high-speed flight.
Korean Air is also making efforts to build a UAV ecosystem. It plans to accelerate future industry development by promoting the development of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) traffic management systems based on its expertise in air traffic management and transportation services.
Korean Air stated, "We will continue to actively pursue enhanced development capabilities and expand business opportunities in the global market through active technological cooperation with domestic and international aerospace companies, including Boeing Insitu."
Meanwhile, the event was attended by Korean Air Aerospace Business Division Head Jungwoo Park, Randy Lott, Boeing's Director of Overseas Sales for Asia-Pacific, and Michael Janser, Director of Asia Business Development at Boeing Insitu, among other representatives from both companies.
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