South Korea aims to join China, US at top tier of ‘loyal wingman’ combat drone race

South Korea is positioning itself to compete at the highest level of the global autonomous military systems market with its program to develop engines for combat drones that can act as "loyal wingmen" for fighter jets. Defense contractor Hanwha Aerospace, in partnership with the South Korean space agency Kasa, announced a joint project to create a 4,500-pound-class turbofan engine by 2029.

This engine is intended for collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) systems and other unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms. The initiative is supported by government funding and includes the development of a 5,500-pound-class low bypass turbofan for stealthy unmanned wingman aircraft and core technologies for a 10,000-pound-class turbofan for advanced stealth platforms.

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Seoul’s attempt to indigenise “the most complex” drone technology should be seen as a “deliberate bid to enter the top tier of UAV producers”.

Analysts highlight the significance of this endeavor. Liselotte Odgaard, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, stated that Seoul's effort to indigenize "the most complex" drone technology is a "deliberate bid to enter the top tier of UAV producers." She emphasized that engines are crucial for determining competitiveness and export potential, noting that South Korea's indigenous UAV engine development marks a significant stride toward mastering "the most restricted and technologically complex subsystems."

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Engines were key to shaping competitiveness and export potential, she said. South Korea’s indigenous UAV engine development was a significant step towards achieving the “most restricted and technologically complex subsystems”.