[KADEX On-site] Korean Air Unveils Advanced Technologies Including UAV and Military Aircraft Upgrades... "Largest Maintenance Center in Asia-Pacific"

Black Hawk 'UH-60' Upgrade Project
Unmanned Formation Aircraft Exposed That Gets Hit Instead of Pilots

On the 2nd, at Gyeryongdae in Chungnam, a model of Korean Air's UH-60 special operations helicopter was exhibited at the "Korea International Defense Industry Exhibition." Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Korean Air showcased various unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms and military aircraft upgrade projects featuring advanced technologies at the Korea International Defense Industry Exhibition (KADEX) held at Gyeryongdae, Chungnam on the 2nd.

At Korean Air's KADEX booth, a full-scale model of the military helicopter UH-60, commonly known as the 'Black Hawk,' was displayed. Since beginning licensed production of the UH-60, the main helicopter model of the Korean military, domestically in 1991, Korean Air has continuously carried out performance upgrades and maintenance, earning recognition for its expertise. Based on its existing technical capabilities with the UH-60 model, Korean Air is preparing a project to upgrade this helicopter for special operations use.

Korean Air also exhibited various types of UAVs. Actual airframes of medium-to-high altitude UAVs, AI cooperative UAVs, and small strike UAVs based on multiple rocket launchers were displayed. Various platforms such as low-observable UAV swarms and vertical takeoff and landing UAVs were unveiled.

On the 2nd, at the 'Korea International Defense Industry Exhibition' held at Gyeryongdae, Chungnam, Korean Air's expendable unmanned cooperative combat drone was exhibited. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang aymsdream@

Among these, the low-observable UAV swarm is equipped with an escort function that flies in formation with fighter jets and, if struck by enemy missiles, absorbs the hit instead of the fighter jet to protect the pilot's life. It performs reconnaissance missions by flying alongside the fighter jet's operational area and includes the capability to attack enemies using internal armaments.

Korean Air is also participating in the development project of a medium-to-high altitude UAV intended to be operated as a strategic UAV for the Korean military in the future. This UAV is equipped with high-performance sensors and can conduct continuous real-time surveillance and reconnaissance over the Korean Peninsula at an altitude of 10 to 13 km for 20 hours. The project is led by the Agency for Defense Development with Korean Air involved in development, and mass production began in 2023.

A Korean Air official stated, "Since 1979, Korean Air has overhauled and upgraded more than 5,000 Korean and U.S. military aircraft and is known as the largest maintenance center in the Asia-Pacific region," emphasizing, "We will continue to showcase our vision as a comprehensive system integrator for military aircraft performance upgrades, overhauls, and unmanned aerial vehicle systems."