During FIA2024, KAI unveiled its MUM-T concept, which involved KF-21, unmanned fighters, and cargo aircraft-dropped UAV swarms.
ROK, having unveiled various UAVs to support its combatant wing over the recent years, has unveiled a gathered-up concept of how its present/future manned platforms will operate with the upcoming UAVs of different types.
An unmanned fighter design and the smaller AAP jet-powered air-launched UAV are the critical components of the concept in support of manned fighters like the KF-21 and FA-50. FA-50 was exhibited with a group of AAP UAVs flying alongside it, suggesting ROK is considering its FA-50 LCA the cost-efficient segment of the concept. The unmanned fighter to take on air-to-air/surface duties will be commanded by a future variant of KF-21 and FA-50 fighter jets capable of commanding UAVs.
However, it should be kept in mind that the UAVs themselves not only have to be kinematically kept up but also act on their own with AI not to distract the pilots.
On the other hand, AAP will take on less direct roles like decoy, electronic warfare, remote sensing, and stand-off munition. The UAV is small enough to be launched by aircraft like KF-21 and FA-50. In this regard, AAP can be described as a remote carrier, which is a type of carrier developed by Germany, France, Turkiye, and the U.S.
The overall idea of ROK’s future air combat concept can be described as similar to Turkiye’s OKU for the KAAN fighter jet, with parallels in terms of platforms and mission profiles. However, ROK has just begun fielding a HALE UAV and is yet to enter the UCAV industry aside from an unmanned fighter.
