Korean Air chosen to develop combat drones

Korean Air Lines Co. has been chosen by the state-run Agency for Defense Development (ADD) as a preferred bidder to spearhead the development of unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs).

The ADD recently finished the basic design for the low-observable formation-flying, unmanned aircraft, which it started in November.

Korean Air, which will team up with the agency to produce a detailed design, plans to develop a special system that allows low-observable UCAVs to fly in formation with a combination of manned and unmanned aircraft.

Every three or four UCAVs will be tasked with guarding and aiding a single manned aircraft while also performing autonomous tasks including electromagnetic interference, surgical attacks, and surveillance.

Since 2010, Korean Air and the agency have been working together to construct South Korea's first low-observable UAV, successfully testing a tailless aircraft in the process.

The national flag carrier was chosen last year by the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology, Planning, and Advancement to create broadband, low-observable UAVs.