What will the Korea-US air forces’ letter of intent on autonomous combat platforms cover?

The two air forces plan to cooperate on advancing operational concepts and interoperability for future manned-unmanned combat systems. The agreement concerns autonomous platforms that work with manned aircraft and other unmanned assets to execute air missions.

Why are Korea and the United States pursuing manned-unmanned teaming for air missions?

The article describes manned-unmanned teaming as a way to reduce risks to pilots and significantly increase operational range and airmen’s chances of survival. Autonomous platforms are designed to collaborate with manned aircraft and other unmanned assets during missions.

How are the Korean and US air forces preparing to develop manned-unmanned combat capabilities?

The U.S. Air Force is pushing to develop and operationally integrate unmanned combat aircraft systems, while Korea’s Air Force is laying the groundwork to secure operational capabilities for manned-unmanned teaming. Their planned cooperation is intended to advance operational concepts and interoperability.

S. Korean, US air forces to bolster autonomous combat platform cooperation

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Summary

The air forces of Korea and the United States will sign a letter of intent on autonomous combat platform cooperation Thursday. The agreement will be signed at a meeting between their chiefs of staff, Gen. Son Sug-rag and U.S. Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach. The two services plan to advance operational concepts and interoperability for future manned-unmanned combat systems.

Key Facts

An autonomous collaborative platform is designed to work with manned aircraft and other unmanned assets to carry out air missions.
Manned-unmanned teaming is described as reducing risks to pilots while increasing operational range and airmen’s chances of survival.
The U.S. Air Force is pursuing the development and operational integration of unmanned combat aircraft systems.
Korea’s Air Force is working to establish the operational capabilities needed for manned-unmanned teaming systems.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 22, 2026 10:48 am KST

U.S. Air Force F-22 fighter jets, along with a U.S. B-52 bomber and C-17, fly over the Korean Peninsula during a joint air drill in Korea, Dec. 20, 2022. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense

The air forces of Korea and the United States will sign a letter of intent (LOI) on autonomous combat platform cooperation Thursday to bolster collaboration in the manned-unmanned combat systems, the Korean Air Force said.

The LOI will be signed during a meeting between the chiefs of staff of the two countries' air forces — Gen. Son Sug-rag and U.S. Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, the South's armed force said in a statement.

The autonomous collaborative platform (ACP) refers to an autonomous system designed to collaborate with manned aircraft and other unmanned assets to execute air missions.

Such manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) is regarded as a cornerstone of next-generation air operations, reducing risks to pilots and significantly boosting the operational range and survival chances for airmen.

The collaboration comes as the U.S. Air Force is pushing for the development and operational integration of the unmanned combat aircraft systems.

Korea's Air Force is also working to lay the groundwork to secure operational capabilities for the MUM-T systems.

Building on the collaboration, the two air forces plan to bolster cooperation to advance operational concepts and interoperability for future MUM-T combat systems, the Air Force said.

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