Korea sets sights on runway-free aircraft after record-breaking drone flight
Korea is pushing ahead with plans for a new generation of aircraft that can take off and land without runways, following a record-setting seven-day flight by its solar-powered unmanned aircraft in the stratosphere. The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) announced Wednesday that it will pursue development of hybrid vertical takeoff and landing aircraft after its EAV-4 unmanned aerial vehicle…
The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) has announced plans to develop hybrid vertical takeoff and landing aircraft following a record-breaking seven-day flight by its solar-powered unmanned aircraft, the EAV-4. The EAV-4 completed 170 hours and 5 minutes of continuous flight from August 18 to 25, more than tripling Korea's previous domestic endurance record of 53 hours set by the EAV-3 in 2020.
The achievement ranked second globally behind Airbus' Zephyr. During the flight test, the EAV-4 demonstrated wildfire surveillance capabilities, using electro-optical and infrared cameras to identify ignition points within seconds and track the movement of embers. Flying at an altitude of about 20 kilometers, solar-powered stratospheric aircraft can remain airborne for extended periods, potentially serving as persistent surveillance platforms and emergency co.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
