Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is advancing its artificial intelligence (AI)-based autonomous pilot system, K-AILOT, through strategic investments and international collaboration.
In March 2025, KAI acquired a 9.87% stake in Seoul-based GenGenAI, a company specializing in generative AI for military data applications. With an investment of KRW 6 billion (approximately USD 4.2 million), KAI has become the second-largest shareholder. The high-quality synthetic data generated by GenGenAI will be used to train KAI’s K-AILOT system for deployment in manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) combat operations.
Later that same month, KAI announced a partnership with U.S.-based Shield AI to integrate the Hivemind Enterprise (HME) software suite. The collaboration will evaluate K-AILOT’s capabilities in conducting autonomous aerial missions under operational conditions.
KAI’s long-term vision is based on a two-tiered MUM-T architecture as the foundation of its Next-Generation Air Combat System. The system integrates high-performance “loyal wingman” UAVs with subordinate UAVs or air-launched effects (ALEs) termed “Adaptable Aerial Platforms” (AAPs), operating alongside manned aircraft.
GenGenAI noted that its synthetic data solutions simulate sensor information including radar, EO/IR, SAR, and LIDAR systems, offering scalable training datasets for AI models.