Korean Air will launch the development of  unmanned combat helicopters together with the U.S.’ Boeing Company.
 
South Korea’s largest airline announced on Thursday that the two companies signed a memorandum of agreement(MOA) on jointly converting unmanned 500MD helicopters during a ceremony in Seoul on Wednesday. The event was attended by key officials, including Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho and Boeing President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg.
 
Under the MOA, Boeing will assist Korean Air by providing technical support, including that related to flight control and testing. The two companies will also launch joint marketing activities abroad.
 
Between 2014 and May of this year, Korean Air remodeled 500MD choppers that are set to be discharged from the Army into unmanned aircraft. From January, the airline began to convert the choppers into armed unmanned aircraft with the goal of completing the task by next year.
 
The newly developed 500MDs will be used for surveillance and reconnaissance activities, as well as for immediate response operations on the frontline.