AAP (KAI)

History

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) began developing the Adaptable Aerial Platform (AAP) through company-funded investment in 2024. The jet-powered unmanned aircraft completed its maiden flight in October 2025. KAI subsequently displayed the AAP test bed at Seoul ADEX 2025 and flight-tested it with its internally developed KAiLOT artificial-intelligence pilot system, demonstrating threat avoidance and target engagement capabilities.

On 8 October 2026, KAI conducted the first joint formation flight between the AAP and an FA-50 light attack aircraft over waters south of Goheung in South Jeolla Province. The two aircraft flew for approximately 20 minutes at an altitude of about 7,000 feet (2.1 km), maintaining a separation of 9 to 30 meters while travelling at 360 km/h. KAI announced the achievement on 12 October 2026, describing it as the first time in South Korea that actual flight tests had verified the operational feasibility of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) systems. The demonstration did not yet constitute an operational loyal-wingman capability involving autonomous targeting or weapons employment, but it established a step in the development sequence toward that level.

KAI plans to use the collected data to develop AI-enabled multi-aircraft formation technology and to demonstrate mission control of the AAP directly from the FA-50. The company intends to transfer these technologies into its future unmanned combat aircraft (MUCCA) and a broader collaborative combat-air architecture linking the FA-50, KF-21, and autonomous platforms.

Specifications

The AAP is a 150-kilogram-class high-speed unmanned aircraft powered by a turbojet engine. The platform measures approximately 3.1 meters in length and 2.2 meters in wingspan, with a maximum stated speed of 790 km/h. It incorporates KAI's KAiLOT artificial-intelligence pilot system for autonomous flight, including threat avoidance and target engagement. The platform is intended to operate alongside crewed fighters and other unmanned systems for missions including reconnaissance, electronic jamming, deception, and strike.