LIG Nex1 said on the 21st (local time) that it signed a contract related to a drone-launched guided missile with Shield AI, a leading U.S. unmanned systems and Autonomous Driving corporations, at the unmanned and autonomous systems exhibition "UMEX 2026" held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The partnership is a project to mount LIG Nex1's multipurpose drone-launched guided missile "L-MDM" on Shield AI's vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (V-BAT), followed by flight and launch tests.
L-MDM is an air-to-ground guided missile mounted on drones and is a small, lightweight weapons system that LIG Nex1 is developing in-house. L-MDM uses a laser-guided method to enable precision strikes on fixed or moving targets, contributing to securing safe standoff distance for troops and enhancing survivability.
In particular, it is designed for easy integration and linkage with existing rotary-wing or fixed-wing drone platforms for surveillance and reconnaissance, allowing flexible application across various platforms.
A LIG Nex1 official said the company plans to strengthen competitiveness in the diversifying global market through a strategic collaboration and long-term partnership on unmanned aircraft and onboard armaments between the two companies.