KUS-VS
Korean Air Aerospace Division · South Korea · Updated
KUS-VS is a lift-and-cruise VTOL UAV under development by South Korea's Korean Air Aerospace Division as a next-generation, division-level tactical UAV for the Republic of Korea Army and Marine Corps. It combines dedicated vertical take-off-and-landing rotors with a separate cruise propulsion system, letting it take off and land like a multirotor while cruising more efficiently than a pure hovering aircraft.
Overview
Korean Air's Aerospace Division displayed a KUS-VS model at the Seoul ADEX exhibition in October 2021, positioning it as a future division-level reconnaissance UAV intended to give Army and Marine Corps units organic surveillance, reconnaissance, target-acquisition and firepower-guidance capability. At the same show, on 22 October 2021, Korean Air signed a memorandum of understanding with Insitu — a Boeing subsidiary — to jointly develop a new lightweight, modular VTOL UAV, combining Korean Air's UAV development and production experience with Insitu's mission-equipment technology and manned-unmanned teaming expertise; trade press has linked that agreement to continued KUS-VS development, though Korean Air has not said so directly.
Design and capabilities
The KUS-VS uses a lift-and-cruise configuration, combining take-off rotors with a separate cruise propulsion system for vertical take-off and landing followed by efficient forward flight. Korean Air has not published the aircraft's dimensions, weight, payload capacity, speed, range or endurance; the programme remains in development and is intended to carry electro-optical/infrared sensors for its surveillance and target-acquisition role.
Frequently asked questions
What is the KUS-VS designed to do?
It is intended as a division-level tactical UAV giving South Korean Army and Marine Corps units their own surveillance, reconnaissance, target-acquisition and firepower-guidance capability.
How does the KUS-VS take off and land?
It uses a lift-and-cruise VTOL configuration, combining vertical take-off-and-landing rotors with a separate forward-flight propulsion system.
Is the KUS-VS in service?
No. It remains in development; Korean Air showed a model at ADEX 2021 and has partnered with Boeing's Insitu on related VTOL UAV development.
Who is developing the KUS-VS?
Korean Air's Aerospace Division, with Insitu, a Boeing subsidiary, under a memorandum of understanding signed in October 2021.
