S.Korea Begins Production of Medium-Altitude Reconnaissance Drone for Air Force

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) held a ceremony at Korean Air’s Busan facility on December 17 to mark the completion of the production facility and the start of assembly for the medium-altitude reconnaissance UAV (MUAV).

The ceremony was attended by officials from DAPA, the Agency for Defense Development, Korean Air, LIG Nex1, and Hanwha Systems.

The event included an inspection of the mass production progress and the facility, an award ceremony for contributors to the MUAV system development, a declaration to begin assembly, and a first assembly ceremony featuring hole drilling. DAPA has been preparing for the MUAV mass production project since January 2024, completing tasks such as ordering raw materials, acquiring aircraft parts, and setting up assembly facilities.

The assembly process will involve a series of steps, including small and medium assembly, full assembly, and both ground and flight tests. Upon completion, the aircraft will be delivered to the South Korean Air Force.

The MUAV is expected to enhance the surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of the Korean military. It is anticipated to play a key role in the country’s self-defense efforts and could be modified for use by other domestic forces, including the Navy and Coast Guard. The aircraft may also be exported to the global defense market in the future.

Korean Air emphasized that this assembly production marks a critical step in the weapon system’s life cycle, including future flight tests, deliveries, and ongoing military support.