Korean Air and AeroVironment have signed a strategic agreement to co-develop and manufacture a next-generation tactical drone tailored for South Korea’s defense forces.
The partnership appoints Korean Air as AeroVironment’s exclusive local collaborator, initially focusing on a South Korea–specific version of the JUMP 20, a VTOL fixed-wing UAS capable of long-range, high-endurance operations.
Both firms will jointly invest in R&D, share production technologies, and adapt the system to suit the South Korean military’s evolving mission requirements.
AeroVironment stated that the effort will strengthen Seoul’s UAS capabilities, enabling its armed forces to leverage autonomous technologies that are now central to modern combat environments.
Beyond defense benefits, the agreement will stimulate South Korea’s domestic aerospace sector by expanding local manufacturing capacity, encouraging tech transfer, and reducing reliance on foreign defense imports.
About the JUMP 20
The JUMP 20 VTOL UAS is designed for rapid field deployment, requiring no runway or launch apparatus, and can be assembled, launched, and recovered in under 30 minutes.
It can carry electro-optical sensors, surveillance payloads, and communication equipment for ISR and border-monitoring missions. The airframe spans 10 feet (3 meters) with a 19-foot (6-meter) wingspan and supports payloads up to 30 pounds (14 kilograms), with a gross takeoff weight of 215 pounds (96 kilograms).
The aircraft’s 190cc EFI gasoline engine delivers 50 knots (93 km/h) flight speed, 17,000-foot (5,182-meter) operational altitude, and 13+ hours of endurance, maintaining control links up to 115 miles (185 kilometers).
Already fielded by NATO nations such as Denmark and Italy, the JUMP 20 brings proven field performance to this new Korean partnership venture.
