Korean Air Showcases Aerospace Technology at Seoul ADEX 2021
Korean Air is participating in the 2021 Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Industry Exhibition (ADEX 2021) held at Seoul Airport in Seongnam Oct. 19-23.
ADEX is Korea’s largest aerospace and defense industries exhibition. The biennial event is a venue for expanding opportunities to export domestic aerospace and defense industry products and exchanging technologies with foreign companies. This year, a total of 440 domestic and foreign companies will be participating.
The exhibition will have on display Korean Air’s latest advancements in various UAV technology such as military UAVs, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVs, stealth UAVs, medium altitude UAVs, hybrid drones, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, urban air mobility (UAM) traffic management systems, and small satellite launch vehicles. Occupying both indoor and outdoor space at the exhibition, the company will have information booths as well as systems, models and prototypes on display.
Korean Air will also showcase its tactical UAV, the KUS-FT, which is currently being used by the Korean military for reconnaissance. The KUS-FT, equipped with the latest technology, is able to take off from a mobile launch pad without a runway, and land using autonomous precision landing technology. The UAV is recognized as a technological masterpiece in the industry.
The KUS-VS features the latest vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) technology, with updated electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor performance, all of which have been developed with Korean Air’s proprietary technology. The KUS-VS also possesses a modular structure, which allows for easier assembling and disassembling compared to existing VTOL UAVs. Portability has also been enhanced. With multiple units being able to be equipped simultaneously on ground transport, the UAVs are ideal for various field operation scenarios. Korean Air seeks continued technological advancements through active cooperation both domestic and international, and will continue to participate in the future development of VTOL UAV technology and production.
Stealth UAVs have technology that absorbs radio waves in a certain frequency band built into the structure, making it difficult for the unit to be discoverable with ordinary radar.
Medium Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (MUAV) are high-performance strategic UAVs that provide real-time surveillance. Test flights are underway with the goal of having a system developed by 2021. Korean Air MUAVs’ world-class performance based on Korean domestic technology has garnered immense interest overseas, and contract negotiations are ongoing for prospective export.
Korean Air’s proprietary hybrid drone features an engine that combines internal combustion with battery power, which enables a maximum two-hour flight time compared to the 30-minute flight time of existing battery-powered drones. It can fly at altitudes of up to 500 m, speeds of up to 72 km/h, and is able to withstand temperatures between -20℃ to 45℃ and wind resistance of 16 m/s. The drone also has a high-resolution camera and collapsible arms for versatile functionality. The company plans to supply the drones to the Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters in November, and the drones are expected to be used in actual life-saving search and rescue activities.
