Korea Aerospace Industries completes first manned-unmanned teaming flight

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has successfully completed the first manned-unmanned teaming flight test. The mission, conducted on October 8, involved a manned FA-50 Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft and an unmanned AAP platform, both designed and built by KAI.

The 20-minute flight maintained a distance of approximately 30 meters between the two aircraft. Data collected during this test will be used to refine software for future operations. The AAP program aims to develop a family of unmanned aerial vehicles capable of cooperating with various manned platforms, such as the FA-50 and KF-21, to perform reconnaissance, electronic warfare, strike missions, or act as decoys.

Additionally, KAI is working on a larger unmanned platform with a maximum takeoff weight of under 6 tons to support manned aircraft and facilitate mixed combat formations.