Korean Air KUS-FS explained

The Korean Air KUS-FS (Korean Unmanned System–Flight Strategic) is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE UAV) developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD).[1] Development started in 2008,[2] with its first flight occurring in 2012 and development concluding in March 2022.[3] It was developed for the South Korean Air Force's Group 5 UAV system. Previously known as the MUAV (Medium-Altitude UAV), the KUS-FS is in the same class as the US-built General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper UAV.[4]

Design and development

The aircraft is long with a wingspan and has a height of .[5] Powered by a modified 1,200 hp turboprop engine based on the Samsung Techwin SS-760K turbojet engine developed for the SSM-700K C-Star anti-ship missile,[6] it has an endurance in excess of 24 hours while flying at a service ceiling of, from where its surveillance systems were accurate enough to identify a specific seat within the Seoul Sports Complex away. It is capable of scanning ground targets away from an altitude of 10–13 km (33,000-45,000 ft).[7] [8] There are four underwing hardpoints which can be used to carry munitions.[3]

The expected delivery time of the KUS-FS was expected to be from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024, and the ROKAF plans to procure two to three complete MUAV systems, totaling about 10 air vehicles, with introduction planned by 2025[9] [10] and deliveries completed in 2028.[3] Production began in January 2024.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 중고도정찰용 무인항공기 사업 추진현황. Defense Acquisition Program Administration. 15 March 2022. https://archive.today/20230429170233/https://www.dapa.go.kr/synap/skin/doc.html?fn=e582e56c1909d1d9da5646c40135dfe5&rs=/synap/result. 29 April 2023. 29 April 2023.
  2. Web site: 26 January 2024. South Korea starts production of MUAV. Janes Information Services. https://web.archive.org/web/20240127221244/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/south-korea-starts-production-of-muav. 27 January 2024. live.
  3. https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2024/02/01/korean-air-begins-producing-reconnaissance-drone-for-souths-military/ Korean Air begins producing reconnaissance drone for South’s military
  4. Web site: South Korean KUS-FS MALE UAV continues flight trials as development draws to a conclusion - Jane's 360. www.janes.com.
  5. Web site: MUAV KUS-FS. Korean Air. https://web.archive.org/web/20230425151513/https://aerospace.koreanair.com/contents/media/brochure/kus_fs.pdf. 25 April 2023. 25 April 2023.
  6. Web site: 제1장 내열 및 구조소재-열차폐·내삭마 코팅 소재기술(2)-변응선(재료연)-신소재경제·재료연구원 공동기획 소재기술백서 2019(13)-. 신소재경제. 3 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20220528064330/http://amenews.kr/skin/news/basic/view_pop.php?v_idx=44992. 28 May 2022. 28 May 2022.
  7. Web site: Chapter 4 The Korean Peninsula: North Korea's Growing Nuclear and Missile Threat and South Korea's Anguish. National Institute for Defense Studies. 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20230304221610/http://www.nids.mod.go.jp/english/publication/east-asian/pdf/2017/east-asian_e2017_04.pdf. 4 March 2023. 4 March 2023. Tetsuo Murooka, Hiroyasu Akutsu.
  8. Web site: [2022 드론쇼코리아] KOREAN AIR, MUAV 소개]. AVING NEWS. 14 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20230427153724/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9gvDibcHz4. 27 April 2023. 27 April 2023.
  9. Web site: 30 March 2020. South Korean MND eyes KUS-FS UAV for RoKA Ground Operations Command. Janes Information Services. https://web.archive.org/web/20220219215120/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/south-korean-mnd-eyes-kus-fs-uav-for-roka-ground-operations-command. 19 February 2022. live.
  10. Web site: 14 August 2020. South Korea highlights unmanned systems interest in latest defence spending plan. Janes Information Services. https://web.archive.org/web/20210506010106/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/south-korea-highlights-unmanned-systems-interest-in-latest-defence-spending-plan. 6 May 2021. live.

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