KAI Showcases AI-Based Manned-Unmanned Teaming Solutions at Drone Show Korea 2026

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is presenting its future battlefield solutions centered on manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) systems at Drone Show Korea 2026, held from February 25 to 27 at BEXCO in Busan.

Drone Show Korea, co-hosted by BEXCO and the Korea Association of Unmanned Systems and supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of National Defense, the Korea Aerospace Administration and the Busan Metropolitan Government, is recognized as Asia’s largest drone exhibition. The event brings together participants from 18 countries and has evolved into a hub for advanced technologies spanning drones, aerospace and future mobility.

At this year’s exhibition, KAI has organized its booth into three themed zones to demonstrate an integrated operational concept based on MUM-T systems.

The company is showcasing a next-generation air combat concept linking the KF-21 fighter with the AAP-220 unmanned platform, as well as the FA-50 light combat aircraft with the AAP-150. The Small Unmanned Collaborative Aircraft (SUCA), including the AAP-150 and AAP-220 currently under development by KAI, is designed to be deployed in high-risk areas ahead of manned aircraft, conduct distributed operations and expand precision strike missions. The goal is to enhance pilot survivability while increasing operational efficiency and mission flexibility.

KAI is also presenting rotary-wing MUM-T systems combining the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) with the NI-100VT unmanned platform. In addition, maritime patrol unmanned aerial vehicles and the Corps Reconnaissance UAV-B2 are on display to highlight surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities across sea and land domains. These systems are designed to meet the wide-area surveillance and full-spectrum intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) requirements of the Navy and Army, strengthening real-time battlefield awareness and information superiority.

The exhibition further features a lineup of attack and loitering munitions, including the Type I anti-armor small suicide drone, the Type II anti-personnel small suicide drone (CMMAV, Combat & Multi-mission Modular UAV) and the Advanced Air Vehicle (AAV) platform adaptable for both military and civilian applications. These solutions align with the Army and Marine Corps’ rapid deployment and cost-effective asymmetric warfare concepts, delivering high combat effectiveness with relatively small force structures. The AAV platform also demonstrates potential civilian uses such as disaster response, surveillance and logistics.

KAI CEO Cha Jae-byeong said that future battlefields are rapidly evolving toward integrated operations between manned and unmanned systems, driven by AI-based autonomous and intelligent technologies. He added that KAI is advancing integrated air, land and maritime combat solutions by combining its expertise in fighter jets, rotary-wing aircraft and unmanned systems with AI capabilities.