KAI Introduces Advanced Manned-Unmanned Complex System in the Middle East

Participation in IDEX 2025

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced on the 18th that it will participate in the international defense exhibition 'IDEX 2025' held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from the 17th to the 21st, marketing domestically produced aircraft equipped with advanced manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) technology.

IDEX is the largest defense exhibition in the Middle East and Africa, with participation from over 1,350 companies from 65 countries worldwide, showcasing land, sea, and air defense equipment and weapon systems.

At this exhibition, KAI will display its main models including the KF-21, FA-50, and LAH, along with the MAH (Marine Assault Helicopter), a Surion derivative that successfully completed its first flight last December. KAI also showcased future projects such as the Multi-purpose Cargo Aircraft (MC-X), Compact Multi-mission Modular Aerial Vehicle (CMMAV), and micro Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites, as well as the K-Space lineup.

Additionally, KAI introduced its Next Generation Aerial Combat System (NACS), which applies manned-unmanned teaming systems?hailed as game changers for future battlefields?to its fixed-wing and rotary-wing main platforms, targeting the Middle Eastern market.

To enhance detection, attack capabilities, and survivability, KAI integrated unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) and multi-purpose unmanned aerial platforms (AAP) with the KF-21 and FA-50. Furthermore, KAI unveiled a manned-unmanned teaming system applied to the MAH and LAH, featuring air-launched unmanned aerial vehicles (ALE) capable of being deployed mid-air to identify and destroy targets.

During the event, KAI plans to discuss business cooperation plans and explore new opportunities with military officials and senior government representatives from the UAE and other key countries in the Middle East and Africa. KAI assessed that although the Middle East region has traditionally imported weapon systems from the United States or Europe, there is a growing shift towards Korean-made weapon systems, which offer advantages in reliability and scalability, due to limitations in follow-up support and performance upgrades.

Kang Goo-young, President of KAI, stated, "Through the export contract for the Surion to Iraq last December, we succeeded in exporting complete aircraft for the first time in 11 years since the export of 24 T-50IQs to Iraq in 2013. Based on a diversified export platform, we will expand exports of our main models in the Middle East and strengthen future business cooperation partnerships to grow the Middle Eastern market."