Vessel Aerospace Unveils Vertical Takeoff and Landing Drone at the 2022 International Maritime Safety Expo

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] Vessel, a KOSDAQ-listed company, announced on the 22nd that its subsidiary Vessel Aerospace, which is engaged in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles and Urban Air Mobility (UAM), will unveil a vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle at the '2022 International Maritime Safety Expo.'

Hosted by the Korea Coast Guard and Incheon Metropolitan City, the '2022 International Maritime Safety Expo' will be held from today until the 24th, featuring over 200 companies and more than 500 booths in a large-scale event. Numerous domestic and international related companies and policy officials are expected to attend.

At this event, Vessel Aerospace will showcase the prototype and ground control system of the ship-mounted unmanned aerial vehicle (MVUS), which is part of the national project "Development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-based Maritime Safety and Illegal Fishing & Marine Ecosystem Management Technology," conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Coast Guard.

MVUS refers to the entire flight system, including not only the unmanned aerial vehicle but also the data link, ground control system, and various modular mission equipment necessary for operation. The core development focus is on an aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing on both ground and ship without a separate runway.

The MVUS currently under development is designed to perform maritime safety and illegal fishing surveillance missions. It uses a fixed-wing design rather than a multicopter type and employs a hybrid power system combining electric motors and engines. It also allows easy installation and replacement of mission equipment, enabling various maritime missions.

Kim Chibung, CEO of Vessel Aerospace, stated, "We will successfully complete the development schedule by the end of the year and present advanced development indicators for the future unmanned aerial vehicle industry both domestically and internationally."