KAI-Northrop Grumman, VTOL Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology Collaboration

Signing of Memorandum of Agreement for Domestic Development of Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is embarking on technological cooperation with advanced overseas companies to enter the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) business for maritime missions.

KAI-Northrop Grumman, VTOL Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology Collaboration

From the left in the photo: Cho Haeyoung, Executive Director of KAI Future Technology Strategy Research Office; Kim Jihong, Executive Director of Future Convergence Technology Institute; NG Richard Sullivan, Vice President; Ha Dongjin, Head of Korea Branch (Photo by KAI)

On the 18th, KAI announced on the 19th that it signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for technological cooperation in the VTOL UAV business with the American company Northrop Grumman (NG) at its headquarters in Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam-do.

The core of this agreement is mutual cooperation for the domestic development of VTOL UAVs that can be mounted and operated on naval destroyers and other vessels.

The VTOL UAVs for maritime missions are expected to be deployed on naval destroyers, coast guard patrol ships, and other vessels to be utilized for continuous surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition in vast maritime areas and operational zones, thereby contributing to territorial waters defense missions.

KAI expects to significantly reduce development risks and required time based on NG’s proven development experience. NG is the developer of the MQ-8 Fire Scout VTOL UAV currently operated by the U.S. Navy and possesses development technology optimized for VTOL UAVs for maritime missions.

Kim Ji-hong, head of KAI’s Future Convergence Technology Institute, said, “We are dedicated to developing next-generation UAV technologies with the goal of leading the future unmanned era,” adding, “We will develop solutions to meet the rapidly increasing demand in the UAV market, including new-concept VTOL UAVs.”