South Korea develops stealth attack drone to enhance naval strike capabilities in high-risk maritime zones.

As reported by Biz Hankook on July 8, 2025, the South Korean company Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has initiated the development of a carrier-based unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), derived from its existing jet-powered unmanned platform under development for the South Korean Air Force. The program was revealed during the 8th Korea Strait Victory Seminar held at the National Assembly on July 8, 2025. KAI’s head of Future Systems Research, Kang Byung-gil, stated that the UCAV is based on a six-ton-class airframe with a reinforced structure and modifications to enable arrested landings and catapult launches from conventional aircraft carriers.
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This new naval unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) is being designed in support of South Korea’s Ghost Commander-II program, which replaced the previously cancelled CV-X aircraft carrier project. (Picture source: KAI via X/Mason)

The UCAV is equipped with a tail hook and has reinforced landing gear, making it compatible with electromagnetic launch and recovery systems. According to KAI, the UCAV will be modular, capable of integrating interchangeable sensors and payloads to support multiple mission types. It is expected to carry long-range air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface munitions, and deployable air-launched drones. The aircraft is also designed for long-range reconnaissance missions and features low-observable characteristics, including internal weapons bays. KAI’s naval UCAV development follows South Korea’s decision to cancel the CV-X aircraft carrier project in 2024, which had originally included plans to procure F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft. The new approach focuses instead on deploying drones and other uncrewed systems from a different class of naval platform, the Ghost Commander-II, as noted by Mason.

Developed by Hanwha Ocean, this vessel was presented at the MADEX 2025 naval exhibition in Busan and is designed as a multipurpose command ship, displacing approximately 42,000 tons. With a length of 240 meters and a width of 60 meters, the vessel features at least one electromagnetic catapult, three arresting cables, a well deck for amphibious landing operations, and vertical launch systems for surface-to-air missiles. The Ghost Commander-II is intended to support a variety of missions, including long-range strike, amphibious support, disaster relief, and sea lane protection, in a context where naval doctrine increasingly integrates artificial intelligence and uncrewed aerial assets.

The UCAV concept was initially developed as part of a broader manned-unmanned teaming framework, which includes KAI’s participation in the development of the KF-21 Boramae fighter and supporting drone systems such as the Low Observable Unmanned Wingman System (LOWUS). The naval UCAV is larger than LOWUS and differs from it in terms of payload capacity, structural reinforcement, and operational independence. The drone’s maximum takeoff weight is under six tons, with a payload capacity of 800 kilograms and a combat radius of approximately 482 kilometers. It is powered by a high-bypass turbofan engine and is expected to cruise below Mach 0.6. The nose section is designed to be modular, allowing for the integration of AESA radar, IRST, EOTS, and potentially maritime surveillance radars in future variants. In addition to its ability to carry the Meteor long-range air-to-air missile, the UCAV will be equipped with small and medium air-launched drones developed by KAI. These allow it to function as a drone mothership, capable of managing multiple subordinate drones during coordinated operations.

KAI’s concept positions South Korea as a potential third country, after the United States and Türkiye, to develop a jet-powered UCAV for carrier operations. The aircraft’s reported characteristics differentiate it from the U.S. MQ-25 Stingray and Türkiye’s Bayraktar Kızılelma, particularly through its combination of internal weapons carriage, modular mission equipment, and radar integration. The UCAV’s performance parameters and mission flexibility are balanced against its relatively low speed, which was selected to maximize fuel efficiency for extended missions. The emphasis on modular architecture also enables role adaptation without requiring multiple aircraft variants. According to KAI, integration with electromagnetic launch systems is essential, and the South Korean defense industry is currently developing an 8-ton electromagnetic catapult, with a future goal of scaling to 20 tons for heavier platforms. KAI has also mentioned the potential of producing a variant capable of ski-jump takeoffs using canards and thrust vectoring nozzles, as an alternative if EMALS integration proves challenging.

While the program is being driven by KAI, there has not yet been a formal requirement issued by the South Korean Navy or procurement authorities such as DAPA or ADD. The development is proceeding independently, with KAI indicating readiness to respond to any formal acquisition once the Navy’s plans for a combined manned and unmanned command ship are finalized. The new drone and ship systems are designed to support South Korea’s strategic doctrine, which is structured around preemptive strikes against North Korean missile threats (kill chain), layered missile defense (KAMD), and retaliatory capabilities. The drone’s ability to carry standoff weapons, conduct ISR operations, and coordinate with both manned aircraft and subordinate drones fits into this framework. As reported, the aircraft's capabilities also include potential swarm control, enabling it to operate as a forward command node for multiple airborne systems during combat or reconnaissance operations. However, concerns have been raised regarding the drone’s ability to carry larger ordnance, such as supersonic anti-ship missiles, within its 800-kilogram payload capacity.

In parallel to the UCAV’s airframe and system development, KAI is investing in AI-based autonomy through a partnership with the U.S. firm Shield AI. In March 2025, KAI signed an agreement with Shield AI and its South Korean partner Quantum Aero to integrate Shield AI’s Hivemind Enterprise software into its unmanned systems. This includes Hivemind Edge for onboard autonomous functions, Hivemind Design for development and simulation, and Hivemind Commander for control and mission planning. The AI pilot system under development, referred to as K-AILOT, will be verified using this software suite. The software has already been integrated into platforms such as the MQ-20 Avenger, MQM-178 Firejet, and X-62 VISTA. The AI integration effort also supports KAI’s AAP drone platform, which serves as a testbed for developing modular and scalable AI-based flight control capabilities. KAI engineers visited Shield AI’s San Diego facility in April 2025 to receive technical training and coordinate the implementation of Hivemind into simulation and test environments.

KAI began AI flight control research in the second half of 2023 and, by February 2024, had allocated approximately $69.7 million to autonomy, big data, and related technologies. To support this effort, it has invested in domestic firms including Konan Technology (big data analytics), PUNZIN (AI for decision support), and GenGenAI (synthetic data for defense simulation). These investments are intended to establish a national ecosystem for autonomous aviation systems. The AAP platform, with a current payload capacity of 20 kilograms and an endurance of over 500 kilometers in one-way missions, is expected to complete a demonstration flight in late July or early August 2025. Three units are currently assembled, with further units under construction. Although the platform lacks a domestically produced engine, with current units relying on German imports, KAI asserts that sufficient volume in future orders could justify the establishment of a domestic engine production line.

Challenges remain for South Korea’s unmanned systems industry. KAI representatives have identified structural limitations in current government procurement practices, particularly the reliance on one-off R&D projects that do not transition to serial production. According to Kang Byung-gil, many such programs deliver fewer than a dozen units and do not generate revenue to reinvest into improved models. Regulatory constraints also create hurdles, such as certification standards that exclude expendable drones from airworthiness criteria, thereby complicating their potential reuse for training or live testing. Kang argues that a clearer division of responsibilities is needed between state institutions like ADD, which should focus on core weapon technologies, and industry players, which could concentrate on platform development. This approach, he suggests, would enable faster, lower-cost delivery of operational unmanned systems.

The strategic rationale for unmanned development was further emphasized in a June 2025 interview, in which Kang noted that drone-based warfare is becoming increasingly common, citing examples from Israel, Iran, Ukraine, and Russia. The South Korean military formally established a drone operations command in 2023, tasked with conducting reconnaissance, strike, psychological warfare, and electromagnetic warfare missions, including during asymmetric threats and regional contingencies. The doctrine emphasizes the integration of AI-enabled systems to reduce electromagnetic exposure of manned platforms by using drones as forward sensors. The two-seat KF-21 variant is expected to be employed as a controller aircraft for loyal wingman operations, while the FA-50, due to its two-seat configuration, could also serve in this role. KAI’s broader unmanned efforts include the KUS-FC stealth UCAV project and experimental platforms such as the Kaori-X flying wing demonstrator, which has been tested since 2015 and focuses on RAM structures and control algorithms for low observability. Together, these initiatives reflect South Korea’s attempt to expand its capabilities in autonomous combat aviation and integrate uncrewed platforms into future air and naval operations.