Korean Air develops KUS-FX drone for deep strike
Korean Air is developing KUS-FX collaborative combat aircraft, a compact unmanned system that effectively functions as a lightweight cruise missile.
Designed for both air- and ground-based launch, the KUS-FX is intended to strike high-value targets at distances up to 600 kilometers, while also supporting reconnaissance and deception missions in contested airspace.
The KUS-FX combines features of a cruise missile and unmanned aircraft, offering multiple launch options and modular mission capability. Unlike similar systems under development, the KUS-FX is designed for both ground and air launches, a feature expected to reduce operational costs through simplified logistics and streamlined production.
The aircraft, weighing 220 kilograms with a 20-kilogram payload, is powered by a compact 1,300N turbofan engine. It cruises at a top speed of Mach 0.8, can remain airborne for 90 minutes, and reaches altitudes up to 20,000 feet. With folded wings, its width narrows to under 500 millimeters, allowing multiple units to be launched simultaneously from a single launcher.
Korean Air says the new platform is engineered with an “Asymmetric Overlapping Folding Wing Structure,” which allows it to retain aerodynamic performance even in stowed configuration. This enables the drone to be packed in large numbers—up to nine units in a 20-foot container—and launched like rockets, bypassing the need for runways or permanent launch facilities.
The company noted that KUS-FX offers both expendable and reusable configurations, aligning with evolving battlefield demands for high volume, low-cost assets capable of saturating enemy defenses or drawing fire from more valuable platforms.
The KUS-FX is currently undergoing phased mission capability development. The initial version, referred to as Block-1, is focused on long-endurance surveillance and decoy operations. A follow-on Block-2 model is planned to carry warheads and integrate autonomous strike capabilities.
While several South Korean defense firms, including KAI and LIG Nex1, are working on similar platforms, Korean Air emphasized that the KUS-FX is the only system in this category built from the ground up for both surface and aerial deployment.
International competitors include Anduril’s Barracuda-500 and CoAspire’s RAACM, but Korean Air’s dual-mode launch and containerized deployment design are seen as key differentiators.
The KUS-FX is Korea’s second small-class collaborative drone, following the earlier KUS-RP. It also complements the larger LOWUS platform, unveiled earlier this year.
