Korean Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Insitu, a subsidiary of Boeing, regarding technical cooperation to develop a lightweight and modularized tactical vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). 

In a statement, Korean Air Insitu — established in 1994 — develops and manufactures unmanned aircraft systems, and has developed Scan Eagle, an UAV operated by the US Department of Defense.

Present in the event were Park Jung-woo, head of aerospace business division at Korean Air, Randy Rotte, general director of the Asia-Pacific business at Boeing, and Michael Janser, director of Asian business development at Boeing Insitu.

The MOU means that Korean Air and Insitu will cooperate with each other to develop lighter and modular tactical vertical takeoff and landing drones by combining their key technologies.

Korean Air is a front-runner in the Korean UAV market. The airline possesses a wide range of UAVs including division-level UAVs, 5-ton high-performing strategic UAVs, tiltrotor UAVs, next-generation stealth UAVs, multipurpose unmanned helicopters and hybrid drones.  

Korean Air is also developing an advanced “lift & cruise” UAV, the KUS-VS. “Lift & cruise” technology takes advantage of independent thrusters for cruise and for lift, which enable vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and high cruising speeds.

The airline said it will also use its knowledge and proficiency in both air traffic management and the transportation service industry to expedite advancements in the future of the urban air mobility (UAM) industry.