Korean Air is pursuing an “open drone” concept where tactical components can be swapped out as easily as LEGO bricks, allowing fast reconfiguration based on mission needs.
The work is supported by a 19.3-billion Korean won ($1.3-million) joint research program with the Agency for Defense Development, tied to the military’s K-MOSA push to standardize and modularize unmanned systems.
If completed, the open drone platform could enable defense partners to rapidly produce interoperable UAV parts at lower costs, while frontline units can mix and match equipment based on operational demands.
Korean Air is forming a consultant team with South Korean drone manufacturers LIG Nex1, Realtime Visual, and MNC Solutions to support the development of key components and mission systems.
“With this agreement, Korean Air will develop open drone platform technology that will dramatically increase the economic feasibility and operational efficiency of drones,” a Korean Air official said.
“We will apply the open concept based on K-MOSA to the unmanned formation system development project to lead the paradigm of future aviation operations and contribute to national defense independence.”
From Concept to Flight
The open drone concept is expected to be applied to Korean Air’s low-observable unmanned formation flight prototype, first delivered in February.
The prototype uses stealth-focused design to limit radar detection while enabling coordinated operations between manned and unmanned aircraft.
Korean Air plans for the system to autonomously carry out reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and precision strike missions.
Flight tests are expected in the first half of 2026, while a manned–unmanned teaming demonstration will take place in 2027.
