An Israel Aero Space Industries (IAI) Heron 1 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) stands on the tarmac during a media presentation at the airbase in the central Swiss town of Emmen September 20, 2012. The Swiss air force is currently evaluating the reconnaissance drone aircrafts of two Israeli companies, . (photo credit:REUTERS/ARND WIEGMANN)
Amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Israeli defense giant Israel Aerospace Industries has signed an agreement with South Korea’s Hankuk Carbon to establish a joint venture company to develop and manufacture unmanned aerial vehicles with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities for both military and civilian markets.
The signing ceremony for the new joint company, Korea Aviation Technologies, KAT, was held during the International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2017 in Seoul this past week.
In a statement by the company, Shaul Shahar, IAI EVP and General Manager of IAI's Military Aircraft Group, stated that "IAI is excited about the establishment of the joint company. Hankuk Carbon brings to the venture strong manufacturing capabilities and know-how. Together with IAI`s UAVs and aircraft design capabilities, the new company will be able to meet Korean military and civilian VTOL requirements.”
IAI and Hankuk Carbon have been co-developing VTOL unmanned aerial vehicles for several years and last year the two companies signed an MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) to establish a joint venture to develop, manufacture, and sell VTOL UAVs.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by IAI, the new joint company follows the signing of the MOA and the joint demonstration of the FE-Panther in December 2016.The new company is expected to develop and manufacture the next generation VTOL UAV- with an approximate maximum take-off weight of 661-992 lbs (300~450Kg).
Moon-Soo Cho, CEO from Hankuk Carbon stated that "both companies have established a firm relationship within a short period of time, and the result will be passed on to the HC-IAI joint venture. The UAS system with innovative hybrid propulsion system produced under KAT's name will set up a new standard of the UAV industry. Also, Hankuk Carbon's composite material and aircraft components business will create a synergic effect with KAT."
In 2015 Hankuk Carbon displayed the FE-Panther, 147lbs (67kg)-Hybrid VTOL UAV which is powered by lithium polymer batteries during take-off and landing and a gasoline engine during cruise phase of flight. The UAV has an endurance of 8 hours flight time with 13lbs (6kg) of payload which can fly over 80 miles(130km) with a maximum speed of 62 mph (100km/h).
During the FE-Panther’s maiden flight in December of last year, at the Gyeryongdae emergency landing strip in South Chungcheong province the UAV was damaged during landed. Changes were then made to the UAV’s design's fuselage, wings and propulsion system.
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