South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has announced the development of stealth technology for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
The agency revealed that key technologies for minimizing a drone’s radar cross-section, such as “aerial structure design” and “flight control algorithms,” have been developed, Janes reported. Seoul-based Aju Daily added that the development would accelerate the Kaori-X UAV project.
Technology Validated
The ADD had been developing the tailless drone for five years, and the latest achievements have been validated through a “series of RCS measurement tests using a mock-up tailless UAV that was covered in radiation-absorbent material,” Janes wrote, citing the agency.
According to Aju Daily, the developers have used the same “polymer-based” material in the drone as that used in manned stealth aircraft.
The developers have also test flown a smaller version of the aircraft multiple times to verify its flight control algorithms.
South Korean Drone Development
In May, the ADD announced a drone technology that allows the UAV to autonomously select an optimized path to a destination.
Around the same time, the South Korean military announced a contract signing “to purchase low-noise hydrogen fuel cell drones for covert surveillance and reconnaissance missions after a six-month test period.” The drone would be acquired from Korean firm Doosan Mobility Innovation.
The South Korean army has also accelerated the deployment of a drone bot combat system, which uses small, swarming UAVs for reconnaissance and surveillance.