UTC Investment Invests 1 Billion KRW in 'Stealth UAV' AD System

The Only Domestic Company Supplying Stealth UAVs for Operational Deployment
Developing the Next-Generation AD-4000 Unmanned Aircraft Capable of Both Reconnaissance and Strike Missions

UTC Investment announced on the 19th that it has invested 1 billion KRW in the defense unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) startup AD System.

AD System is an aerospace defense startup founded in 2019. The company possesses in-house technological capabilities that allow it to independently handle the entire UAV development process, from design to mass production. Its flagship product, the AD-3000, has had its performance verified by major domestic defense leaders and has been adopted as a reconnaissance UAV for field operations. The AD-3000 features stealth technology that reduces radar cross-section (RCS) by more than 90%, and it is capable of long-duration flights of over 90 minutes.

Notably, the AD-3000 maintains both endurance and performance despite adopting an aerodynamically challenging angular shape, complex curved surface design, and the application of heavy stealth coatings to evade detection.

Recently, the military use of drones has surged worldwide in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war. In Korea, the Ministry of National Defense has established a Drone Operations Command and increased related budgets, signaling a full-scale strengthening of unmanned military capabilities.

Building on the success of the AD-3000, AD System has begun developing the next-generation unmanned attack aircraft, the AD-4000, which will be capable of both reconnaissance and strike missions. The AD-4000 is a fully stealth aircraft that simultaneously achieves extremely low radar reflectivity and serves as a weapons-carrying platform. As a core platform for offensive unmanned capabilities, it is generating significant anticipation within the industry.

Lee Gilhun, Director at UTC Investment, stated, "Commercializing a UAV that combines stealth capabilities suitable for real military operations, a high-load structure, and excellent endurance is a highly challenging technical task. We focused on the fact that AD System is the only domestic provider to have delivered an actual stealth UAV for operational deployment, rather than just for research purposes, while meeting these complex requirements."