Huneed, Korean Air sign UAV deal

By Jun Ji-hye

Local defense manufacturer Huneed Technologies signed a contract with Korean Air, Thursday, to supply core parts for reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) being manufactured by the airline company.

The contract is worth $4.3 million, which is approximately 8 percent of Huneed’s sales revenue last year.

Korean Air is producing division-level reconnaissance UAVs under a contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration signed last December.

Huneed will supply Korean Air with core secondary data link equipment, which will be used to exchange mission control information with ground units.

“This project is an important milestone for Huneed as it is the first time for the firm to participate in mass production of UAVs,” the company said in a release. “Huneed has been closely cooperating in developing UAV-related technologies with two global aerospace companies, Boeing and Airbus.”

The company said that the Korean Air deal will help it pursue continued growth in the domestic aerospace market.

“Huneed will keep expanding its UAV-related business to meet demand at home and abroad,” said Huneed Chairman Eugene Kim.