Comprehensive Solutions Featuring Transport, Reconnaissance, Strike Drones and Protection Systems
Contribution to Drone Industry, Two Team Leaders Awarded by Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
Multicopter drones, multipurpose unmanned helicopters, reconnaissance and strike drones...
LIG Nex1 (CEO Kim Ji-chan) showcased a full range of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles at the ‘2023 Unmanned-system World Congress (UWC 2023)’ which opened on the 21st at COEX, Seoul.
The Unmanned-system World Congress, continuing until the 23rd, is a government-wide exhibition presenting the present and future of the advanced unmanned mobility industry. It is hosted by seven ministries and agencies including the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and organized by 16 institutions such as the Agency for Defense Development and the Korea Drone Industry Promotion Association.
At this exhibition, LIG Nex1 introduced comprehensive solutions including transport, surveillance reconnaissance, and attack drones, as well as drone detection radars capable of detecting threats from enemy or terrorist drones, and jammers to neutralize detected drones.
The ‘40kg-class multicopter-type transport drone system’ is being developed as part of a dual-use technology development project jointly invested by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration through the Agency for Defense Development’s Civil-Military Cooperation Promotion Institute.
LIG Nex1 is responsible for system integration in this project. It is known to be capable of flying for over 60 minutes and can be used for transport in remote or disaster areas where vehicle access is difficult.
The ‘Multipurpose Unmanned Helicopter (MPUH)’ capable of performing surveillance reconnaissance missions can fly for up to 6 hours on a single takeoff.
The military uses it as a surveillance reconnaissance asset, government agencies consider it for coastal defense, maritime search and rescue, and wildfire monitoring, and civilians are evaluating its use for fish school detection.
Like the transport multicopter drone system, it was developed through the dual-use technology development project jointly invested by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration via the Agency for Defense Development’s Civil-Military Cooperation Promotion Institute.
The attack drone, ‘Small Reconnaissance and Strike Composite Drone,’ is capable of suicide attacks. It was selected for the Defense Acquisition Program Administration’s rapid demonstration acquisition project, delivered to the Republic of Korea Army, and its performance has been verified.
To ensure operational convenience, a tilt-type drive unit was applied to enable vertical takeoff and landing without the need for a runway. Delivered through the Defense Acquisition Program Administration’s rapid demonstration acquisition project, it completed the Army’s pilot operation in 2022 and is currently operated by the Army.
The drone protection system, composed of jammers, EO/IR cameras, and RF scanners, is responsible for protecting key national facilities from the growing threat of illegal drones.
At the exhibition, it functions as an effective countermeasure against enemy drones threatening friendly forces. The integrated operation system was verified through over 500 outdoor tests, and recently, a contract was signed with Korea Airports Corporation for the ‘Gimpo International Airport Illegal Drone Detection Equipment Purchase and Installation Project.’
Kim Ji-chan, CEO of LIG Nex1, said, “Our future goal is to provide integrated solutions that meet the diversifying customer demands in the drone and drone protection system fields,” adding, “It is especially meaningful that two of our employees received ministerial commendations at this exhibition, which I believe recognizes our efforts so far.”
At the opening ceremony that day, an awards ceremony was also held for those who contributed to the development of the unmanned mobility industry including drones.
At LIG Nex1, Song Jun-ho, Team Leader of the Aviation Drone Business Division 2, received a commendation from the Minister of National Defense, and Seong Gil-young, Team Leader of the Drone Development Group 1, received a commendation from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy.
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