Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced today that it has participated in the "Korea Drone·UAM Expo 2023" taking place at Incheon Songdo Convensia.
This exhibition is organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport and Incheon Metropolitan City, marking its fourth edition since its inception in 2019.
During the event, KAI will showcase several cutting-edge aerial vehicles, including a manned/unmanned Advanced Air Vehicle (AAV), a vertical take-off and landing UAV known as the Night Intruder (NI)-500VT, and next-generation corps UAVs.
The AAV developed by KAI is an electrically powered aircraft designed for both manned transport and unmanned cargo operations. It boasts enhanced flexibility to cater to various requirements, thanks to its multi-purpose common platform that can be utilized in both civilian and military applications.
KAI's self-developed NI-500VT is an eco-friendly aircraft capable of rapid ascent and high-speed cruising. It achieves this through the implementation of a hybrid propulsion system and a tilt-rotor configuration, allowing for vertical take-off and landing.
The next-generation corps UAV, on the other hand, is a long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle specifically designed for monitoring and reconnaissance purposes in corps operational areas. KAI aims to finalize the system development for this UAV by the end of this year. The development process involves incorporating high-strength and lightweight materials, advanced mission equipment, and satellite communication capabilities.
“We will lead the field of future aircraft by adding technologies of the 4th industrial revolution such as AI, self-driving, and big data to KAI’s 40-year legacy of aircraft development,” said Shin Sang-jun, head of the future aircraft research division at KAI.
Following the decision to prioritize the "future air mobility" project in March of the previous year, KAI identified it as a core future business in its Global KAI 2050 vision, unveiled in January of this year. The company is actively working towards securing key technologies to support this initiative.
Furthermore, KAI is currently engaged in preliminary research on crucial technologies for AAVs, including the electric dispersion propulsion system and optimal prop rotor design. Over the course of this year until the first half of 2024, KAI plans to advance its flight control logic and simulation technology through test flights conducted using scaled-down aircraft.
