The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) will push to localize core components of a five-seat-class hybrid vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. It aims to build four prototypes by 2032.
The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) said on the 25th that it held a public hearing at the Daejeon DCC Convention Center for the development of a domestically developed hybrid vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and gathered opinions from industry, academia and research, as well as additional public-sector demand.
The planned aircraft targets a range of at least 200 km, a payload of at least 600 kg, and a flight time of at least 60 minutes, based on five seats.
In particular, unlike existing battery-based vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, a hybrid system using both an engine and a battery will be applied. The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) expects this to increase payload and range and secure reserve power that can be used in emergencies.
With commercialization in mind, aircraft certification requirements will be reflected from the design stage. In cooperation with relevant ministries, it also plans to put in place the systems and procedures needed for future certification.
The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) plans to collect additional opinions until the 9th of next month from potential demand agencies on the feasibility of public-sector uses such as firefighting, maritime rescue, medical transport and logistics. The collected input will be reflected in the project planning.
Han Chang-heon, head of the aviation innovation division at the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), said, "Hybrid vertical takeoff and landing aircraft can be used in various fields such as transportation, logistics and public services," and noted, "This is a technology that requires cooperation among the government, industry, academia and research." The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) plans to flesh out the related project and apply in November to the Science and Technology Innovation Center as a build-type research and development project.