South Korea KUS-FC

The KUS-FC program is a South Korean defense initiative led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) with Korean Air as the manufacturer, aimed at developing a stealthy unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) to enhance air combat capabilities, particularly in response to regional threats. It is currently in advanced development, with successful takeoff, landing, and flight tests on general runways completed, marking the second stage of a three-stage process, and the military is evaluating deployment under the Drone Operations Command. From a defense-intelligence perspective, it holds strategic significance as part of South Korea's push for low-observable unmanned systems to support manned fighters like the KF-21, enabling reconnaissance, strike, and electronic warfare missions while reducing pilot risk against North Korean provocations.