Next Aerospace and KT SAT Sign MOU to Establish Satellite-Based Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operation System

Next Aerospace, a domestic private system integration aircraft specialist company, announced on the 3rd that it signed a business agreement with satellite communication specialist KT SAT to establish a satellite communication-based unmanned aerial vehicle operation system on the occasion of the 2026 Drone Show Korea held on the 27th of last month.

This agreement aims to secure a next-generation unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation solution by combining Next Aerospace's aircraft system integration technology with KT SAT's global satellite communications infrastructure. Under the agreement, KT SAT will provide satellite communications infrastructure, support the design and verification of UAV communication linkage systems, identify joint business opportunities, and spearhead external sales efforts. Next Aerospace will be responsible for designing and manufacturing the UAV airframe, integrating systems, flight testing and performance verification, and obtaining domestic and international certifications.

This agreement was signed amidst the interest of global defense companies and military officials who visited the Next Aerospace booth during the exhibition. At the event, the company unveiled its lineup of unmanned aerial vehicles, including the NV-050, which has received vertical takeoff and landing safety certification.

With this agreement, Next Aerospace plans to pursue the development of next-generation UAVs, advance their technology, and expand into the global market. KT SAT explained that it plans to utilize the Mugunghwa satellite to address shadowing issues in existing LTE and terrestrial RF-based communication environments and establish an environment capable of transmitting and receiving high-resolution images and aircraft status information in real time. This is expected to enhance the utility of the system in various fields, including reconnaissance, surveillance, and disaster response.

Meanwhile, Next Aerospace is expanding its business in the public and defense markets and continuously pursuing research and development based on its domestically produced manned and unmanned aircraft design and manufacturing capabilities.

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