has secured a government contract to develop a low-observable unmanned air vehicle (UAV) to advance South Korea’s stealth technology.
The contract award came from the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement (KRIT), says Korean Air.
The project involves producing a UAV that aids the development of radar absorbing materials and a low observable shape that can be applied to future UAVs.
The company already has experience with low observable UAV work. From 2010 to August 2021, it developed and tested a UAV prototype that features low-observable characteristics.
This resulted in a technical demonstration model that has flown fewer than ten times. Korean says that from 2016 to 2016, it was able to reduce the UAV’s radar cross section through the use of what it refers to as “multi-functional composites.”
In addition to its airline operations, Korean Air has extensive involvement in the aerostructures and the MRO business through its KAL-ASD aerospace division.
On 28 September, South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration said that KRIT has developed “four core technologies” related to low-observable UAVs.
These include reducing a UAVs radar cross section (RCS) through its structure, and radome technology that can “selectively transmit or shield” various wavelengths.
The other areas are stealthy, built in antennas and “lightweight radio wave absorbing paint technology”, which also reduces a UAV’s RCS.
Photo: Agency for Defense Development
Source: FlightGlobal