Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Israel’s Elbit Systems have agreed to collaborate and develop the next generation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) solutions.
The two companies have also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which will see them leverage their technological experience in the UAS field.
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The solutions are intended to support the intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions.
Elbit Systems said in a statement that the partnership ‘will address potential UAS programmes for the Korean Defense Forces, as well as additional global customers’.
KAI’s collaboration with Elbit Systems follows a similar agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) earlier this month.
This manned and unmanned teaming systems agreement focuses on offering unmanned loitering munitions for the South Korean military.
Elbit Systems manufactures over ten different unmanned platforms that have been ordered by more than 30 customers in Israel, the UK, Switzerland, Canada, France, Brazil, Chile and more countries.
The company’s product portfolio ranges from tactical-drones up to 1.5t medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAS. The UAS platforms have been in operational service for several years.
Meanwhile, KAI has produced KT-1 and T-50 training aircraft, KUH-1 Surion rotorcraft and Light Armed Helicopter/Light Civil Helicopter (LAH/LCH) helicopters, satellites and space launch vehicles. It is currently developing the KFX Fighter.
The Korean company has also built tactical UAS for the Korean Defense Forces.
