South Korea Launches Mass Production Project for Advanced Reconnaissance UAV

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) of South Korea, led by Director Eom Dong-hwan, has initiated a project to mass produce a Medium Altitude Reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MUAV), aiming to enhance the surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Hosted by DAPA, a two-day project launch meeting took place at the Korean Air Aerospace Research Institute in Busan, with attendance from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Air Force, and the Agency for Defense Development, among other relevant organizations. The event, held from January 24 to 25, marked the official commencement of the project, which will see the sequential delivery of MUAVs to the Air Force through mass production.

The MUAV, South Korea's first strategic-class unmanned aerial vehicle, underwent research and development under the supervision of the Agency for Defense Development since 2008. The development project reached its conclusion in March 2022, meeting combat suitability standards and national defense standardization.

Last year, on December 21, DAPA signed a contract for the mass production of MUAV with three leading companies—Korean Air, LIG Nex1, and Hanwha Systems—which had been instrumental in the research and development of MUAV prototypes.

The total project cost is estimated at KRW 471.7 billion, with Korean Air as the system company and LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Systems serving as subsystem companies.

The launch of the mass production project is anticipated to elevate South Korea's independent surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, providing quick and efficient operational command capabilities by enabling real-time video monitoring of enemy strategic targets. Furthermore, the unmanned MUAV's ability to undertake dangerous and high-difficulty reconnaissance missions is expected to enhance the survivability of friendly forces.

Looking ahead, the MUAV is poised to find applications in various fields within South Korea, including coast guard and firefighting, following modifications and further development. Additionally, its entry into the growing export market for unmanned aerial vehicles is expected to contribute to South Korea's defense industry exports.

Kim Tae-gon, Head of the Advanced Technology Division at DAPA, expressed optimism about the project's impact on the military's surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. He emphasized the potential for increased defense industry exports, stating, "We expect that the mass production project for the medium-altitude reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (MUAV) will improve our military’s surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and contribute to the increase in defense industry exports in the future."