Full-scale Launch of South Korea's Indigenous Stratospheric Flight Era
EAV-4 Achieves Successful Low-Altitude Test Flight
Laying the Groundwork for Next-Generation Stratospheric Drone Platforms
The Korea Aerospace Administration and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute announced on April 28 that they have successfully conducted a low-altitude flight test of the EAV (Electric Air Vehicle)-4, a stratospheric drone currently under development using independent South Korean technology.
This test is expected to serve as a significant milestone for future 30-day long-duration stratospheric flight demonstrations and the development of next-generation stratospheric drone demonstration platforms.
The test took place on the morning of April 27, with takeoff at 7:00 a.m. The drone flew stably for about 25 minutes, during which its flight control characteristics, structural safety, and the proper functioning of its solar power generation system were examined. Through this, a foundation was established for future expansion of flight range and demonstration tests in stratospheric environments.
The stratosphere has long remained an unexplored domain for humanity due to its low atmospheric density?only 7% of that at ground level?and extreme temperatures reaching minus 70 degrees Celsius. However, with recent advancements in cutting-edge technologies such as high-efficiency solar cells and ultra-lightweight, high-strength materials, the era of stratospheric aerial platforms is now beginning.
Major countries around the world recognize this as a new strategic technological domain and are accelerating development in a competitive manner. The Korea Aerospace Administration and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute are also taking a leading role in securing an indigenous South Korean stratospheric platform.
The EAV-4, which succeeded in this flight test, is equipped with an ultra-large 30-meter wingspan and has a total weight of less than 150 kg, capable of carrying 20 kg of mission equipment. Powered by solar energy, it can remain airborne in the stratosphere at an altitude of 20 km for over 30 days, making it a next-generation platform capable of performing a variety of missions such as long-term communications relay, surveillance and reconnaissance, and disaster monitoring.
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute had already succeeded in a domestic stratospheric flight at an altitude of 14 km in 2015, and in 2020 set a record by maintaining stratospheric flight at 22 km altitude for 53 consecutive hours. This recent low-altitude test builds upon these accumulated technological achievements and marks another step forward toward the practical utilization of the stratosphere.
The Korea Aerospace Administration is actively analyzing the limitations identified through this preliminary project (Development Project for Stratospheric Drones for Real-time Disaster Monitoring), and is working to internalize core technologies and localize components to overcome these challenges.
Based on this technological foundation, the agency plans to accelerate the development of mission-specific demonstration drones, establish and demonstrate operational systems, and pioneer the global market through the 'Mission Demand-based Stratospheric Drone Demonstration Platform Development Project,' which is scheduled to be carried out from 2026 to 2029 with a total project budget of 48 billion KRW.
Kim Hyundae, Director of Aviation Innovation at the Korea Aerospace Administration, stated, "Through this technological development, we will continue to provide support so that South Korea can establish itself as a global leader in the field of high-altitude stratospheric unmanned aerial vehicles and further strengthen the nation's strategic technological competitiveness."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
