The Defense Development Agency (ADD) and Korean Air held a ceremony on the 25th at the Korean Air Tech Center in Busan to unveil the first prototype of the “Low Observable Unmanned Wingman System (LOWUS),” a key platform for joint operations between manned and unmanned aircraft.
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The unmanned wingman drone was designed to operate alongside the promising South Korean fighter jet KAI KF-21 Boramae, carrying out autonomous missions such as reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and attacks under the supervision of a human pilot.
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To reduce its detection by enemy sensors, the aircraft was developed with a low radar signature design and materials that absorb electromagnetic waves, along with technology that minimizes its acoustic and optical detectability.
The project, led by ADD and Korean Air, was launched in 2021 under the supervision of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). Research and development are expected to be completed by 2027.
The first prototype flight is scheduled for later this year, with team flight tests between manned fighters and the drone planned for 2027, when a piloted aircraft will directly control the UAV during missions.
After the development phase, the stealth unmanned wingman drone is expected to operate alongside combat fighters, bringing significant innovations to future air operations.
With support from DAPA, ADD is also working on developing essential technologies for the project, such as a domestically produced engine and an active electronically scanned array radar (AESA).
Source and images: X @S8gy2AEgVRHyS2Q / Korean Aerospace Industries. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
