Korean Air has entered into a partnership with U.S. defense technology company Anduril Industries to jointly develop and produce autonomous aircraft for Korea and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Following a technical cooperation MoU signed in April 2025, the two companies have now agreed to co-develop Korean-type unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) based on Anduril products; license-produce Anduril products and any localized variations in Korea for export across the Asia-Pacific region; and explore establishing manufacturing and production capabilities in South Korea

Anduril, a fast-growing U.S. defense technology company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) driven autonomous systems, is known for its Lattice software, an advanced platform that integrates unmanned systems, command-and-control networks, and real-time data analysis.

Korean Air noted that this technology enables rapid battlefield decision-making and mission execution.

As a leading Korean UAV developer, Korean Air is expected to accelerate the advancement of its systems through this partnership. Through this agreement, Korean Air would hold rights to license-produce portions of Anduril's defense systems for regional exports.

"This partnership combines Korean Air's proven expertise in unmanned aircraft systems with Anduril's cutting-edge AI technology," said Jin Kyu Lim, SVP and Head of Korean Air’s Aerospace Business.

"This collaboration will enhance our capabilities and represent a significant milestone in the global unmanned systems market."

The partnership was announced during Anduril's Korea office launch event in Seoul, hosted by the U.S. Commercial Service and the U.S. Embassy. Key attendees included Jin Kyu Lim, SVP and Head of Korean Air's Aerospace Division, and Palmer Luckey, Founder of Anduril.