KAI teams up with US defense firm to develop manned-unmanned aircraft systems

By Lee Seong-jin Posted : October 20, 2025, 14:16 Updated : October 20, 2025, 14:29
Manned-Unmanned Aerial System [Photo: KAI]
Rendering of manned-unmanned aerial system/ Courtesy of Korea Aerospace Industries


SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said Monday it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, a U.S. defense company known for its unmanned aerial systems, to collaborate on manned-unmanned teaming technology.

The agreement seeks to establish a partnership in developing systems that integrate piloted aircraft with drones — known as manned-unmanned teaming, or MUM-T — for the domestic market, with an eye toward future expansion overseas.

KAI has identified MUM-T platforms as one of its six next-generation growth areas. Earlier this year, the company unveiled KAILOT, an artificial intelligence pilot brand, as part of a broader push to advance autonomous flight technology.

Kratos, based in San Diego, has built a reputation as a key player in the U.S. defense sector, producing systems such as the XQ-58 Valkyrie and BQM-167 aerial target drones.

Over the past decades, the company has supplied high-performance drones for the U.S. military and recently achieved milestones in collaborative combat aircraft and MUM-T operations.

The partnership comes as South Korea seeks to merge artificial intelligence and autonomous flight into its next generation of combat systems.

* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.

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