South Korea’s KAI to Test Artificial Intelligence (AI) Pilot in FA-50 Light Combat Aircraft
The AI initiative, known as “K-AI Pilot,” aims to use the FA-50 light combat aircraft to explore autonomous flight capabilities by 2026.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – South Korea’s aerospace giant, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) plans to test an Artificial Intelligence (AI) pilot in the FA-50 combat aircraft as a step towards the development of unmanned aircraft in the future.
The AI initiative, known as “K-AI Pilot,” aims to use the FA-50 light combat aircraft to explore autonomous flight capabilities by 2026.
Following this, the focus will shift to “semi-autonomous” formation flights and combat maneuvers, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Defense, citing a presentation by KAI’s Head of AI Research, Lim Seong-shin.
“The concept of a fighter jet is evolving from a single manned platform to a network of sensors and complex weapon systems integrating both manned and unmanned elements,” said Lim.
“Currently, battlefield dominance relies on high-cost, high-value assets with exceptional individual capabilities. However, in the future, it will depend on the combined power of large numbers of low-cost, low-value assets to achieve battlefield supremacy.”
According to South Korea’s Ministry of Defense, this phase of the project is expected to become operational by November 2028.
BRIEF:
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) plans to test an Artificial Intelligence (AI) pilot, called “K-AI Pilot,” in its FA-50 light fighter jet by 2026, as part of South Korea’s broader push toward developing unmanned aircraft technology. This initiative will progress to “semi-autonomous” formation flying and combat maneuvers, with operational capabilities expected by November 2028.
The project aligns with evolving battlefield concepts that prioritize networks of sensors and combined manned-unmanned systems over traditional high-cost, high-value platforms. KAI aims to integrate this AI technology into existing South Korean fighter jets and potentially U.S.-made aircraft like the F-15.
KAI has also demonstrated significant interest in Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs), as seen in its display at the Seoul ADEX 2023, showcasing future UCAVs as complements to manned fighters. Additionally, KAI is advancing manned-unmanned teaming capabilities, such as linking the KUH-1 Surion helicopter with drones and the FA-50 with high-performance unmanned aircraft.
K-AI Pilot is part of a broader strategy to integrate AI technology into various platforms, including South Korea’s existing fighter jets and potentially U.S.-made aircraft such as the F-15.
KAI and South Korea have long shown interest in AI applications for Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs).
At the Seoul ADEX 2023 exhibition, KAI and domestic competitor Korean Air showcased models of future UCAVs, presenting them as complements to manned fighter jets for specific missions.
In January, KAI and a local defense institute launched a project to develop AI applications for both manned and unmanned aircraft.
Additionally, KAI is developing systems for manned-unmanned teaming, such as collaboration between the KUH-1 Surion helicopter and drones, as well as similar systems linking the FA-50 with high-performance unmanned aircraft. – DSA
