Korean Air Signs MOU with Insitu for Tactical UAV Co-Development

(04 Nov 2021)  Korean Air has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Insitu, a Boeing subsidiary, to jointly develop a lightweight and modularized tactical vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The airline expects a synergy effect by combining the core technologies of both companies: Korean Air's expertise in UAV development and production, and Insitu's state-of-the-art UAV technologies including high-performance mission equipment, system optimization and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operations.

Established in 1994, Insitu develops and manufactures unmanned aircraft systems, and has developed Scan Eagle, an UAV operated by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Korean Air already possesses a wide range of UAVs including division-level UAVs, 5-ton high-performing strategic UAVs, tiltrotor UAVs, next-generation stealth UAVs, multipurpose unmanned helicopters and hybrid drones.

The company is also developing an advanced “lift & cruise” UAV, the KUS-VS. “Lift & cruise” technology takes advantage of independent thrusters for cruise and for lift, which enable vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and high cruising speeds.

Korean’s UAV, KUS-FT, was recently recognized as one of the “2021 Top 15 Industrial Technology Achievements”, by The National Academy of Engineering of Korea (NAEK).

Korean Air is also helping to develop a traffic control management system for UAVs, using its knowledge and proficiency in both air traffic management and the transportation service industry to expedite advancements in the future of the urban air mobility (UAM) industry.