Page 7 - Seoul ADEX 2021 Day 3 Online Magazine

KAT HAS HIGH

HOPES FOR

BLACK SWAN

Korea Aviation Technologies (KAT) has
unveiled the prototype of KAT-20 Black
Swan, an e-VTOL Fixed Wing Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle, at ADEX 2021. The UAV
offers high operational capabilities with
extended endurance for surveillance and
reconnaissance, Chi Hoon Ahn, Engineer
at KAT’s Research and Development
Center, told Daily News.
“WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
ON THE PROTOTYPE FOR A
YEAR AND WE ARE EXCITED
WITH THE RESULTS DURING
THE TESTING PHASE. WE HOPE
TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER IT TO
THE SOUTH KOREAN MILITARY
POONGSAN ONCE WE START PRODUCTION
IN A YEAR.”
DEVELOPING GLIDING The UAV has a maximum take off weight

of 15 kg and is designed to be capable
GUIDED NAVAL of carrying a payload of 2.5 kg. It has a
maximum endurance of two hours and
MUNITION, EXTENDED can reach speeds of up to 100 km/hour.
“We are planning to export the Blackswan
RANGE AMMUNITION in the future and are optimistic about find-
ing buyers,” added Ahn. “The UAV can
carry more pay more payloads and has
more endurance than its competitors in
Poongsan, South Korean maker of a wide “THESE ATTACK DRONES ARE the market.” Some of the components of
range of military-purpose ammunition, is CAPABLE OF DOING PLENTY the UAV have been produced by Hankuk
currently working on developing a glid- Carbon, the parent company of KAT
ing guided naval munition (GGNM) that is OF DAMAGE,” said Dong Won that specializes in manufacturing com-
designed to help enhance the long-range Lee, Senior Manager at the company‘s posite materials and parts. Apart from
precision attack capability of navies. Defence Products Exports team. Blackswan, KAT also manufactures other
“IT TAKES AN INFANTRYMAN UAVs, including a 24-hour surveillance
The GGNM, once developed, is expected ONLY THREE MINUTES TO and reconnaissance wired drone and a
to be extensively used in counterfire mis- SET UP THE PCD. THE DRONE drone for carrying cargo.
sions and landing operations Once fired COMES BACK AFTER THE
from a naval gun, the munition will glide
and then attack targets within 100 km. MISSION IS COMPLETED.
WE EXPECT TO DELIVER THE
Among the company’s other products ATTACK DRONES TO THE
at the show that are either under devel- SOUTH KOREAN MILITARY
opment or newly introduced into the
market are the Personal Combat Drone AND WILL ALSO SEEK
(PCD), the Poongsan Attack Drone with INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS.”
Aerial ammunition (PAD). The PCD is a
multi-purpose drone that is capable of The company, which makes anything from
performing a variety of missions. Carried 5.56mm ammunition to eight-inch projec-
by an infantryman in a bag; the portable tiles for Howitzers, is also showcasing its the Middle East and East Asia. We invest
drone comes back after the mission and range of small, medium and large caliber significantly in R&D and are constantly
can be reused. PAD is a small attack ammunition. “We are the main supplier updating our line of products. Right
drone system with aerial ammunition of ammunition to the Korean Army,” said now, we are working on extended range
that can destroy targets from armored Lee. “More than 30 countries use our ammunition and hope to introduce it into
vehicles. ammunition, including many countries in the market next year.”

SEOUL ADEX - INTERNATIONAL AEROSPACE & DEFENSE EXHIBITION 2021 OCTOBER 21, 2021 | 7