Tiltrotor aircraft are capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) like helicopters and can achieve high-speed forward flight by tilting their rotors horizontally, combining the advantages of both rotor and fixed-wing aircraft. Beginning in 2002, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) undertook a decade-long development program, ultimately becoming the second organization in the world, after the United States, to develop a tiltrotor UAV: the TR-100.
Tiltrotor aircraft can fly at more than twice the speed and higher altitudes than helicopters, making them highly effective for wide-area missions, such as surveillance, search, reconnaissance, transport, and communication relay. They are particularly suitable for Korea’s geographic environment, which is characterized by mountainous terrain and surrounded by the sea on three, making runway construction difficult. The aircraft can be used not only for military purposes, such as the reconnaissance of potential enemy territories, but also for coastal and island surveillance, illegal fishing monitoring, wildfire and traffic monitoring, and weather observation. Furthermore, this is an advanced technology that can be applied as a platform for personal air vehicles capable of vertical takeoff and landing without the need for runways.
The TR-100 features a top speed of 440 km/h, a mission range of 200 km, an endurance of up to 5 hours, and a payload capacity of 90kg. It is powered by a 550-horsepower turboshaft engine and is comprised of the air vehicle itself, a communication system, a control interface, and ground support equipment. The aircraft is equipped with day and night surveillance cameras, as well as essential avionics, including a flight control computer and navigation system.
When a reconnaissance mission is required in a designated area within a 200 km radius via ground control systems, the onboard flight computer, integrated with navigation systems, autonomously guides the aircraft along the pre-programmed route. The onboard surveillance camera captures images of the target from an altitude of 3 km, and the communication system transmits this data to the ground in real-time. The ground control station receives the footage, enabling situational awareness in disaster areas and potential conflict zones.
As of now, no tiltrotor UAVs have been commercialized. As such, successful commercialization would position Korea to lead the advanced UAV market based on tiltrotor technology. In response, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute is continuing its efforts to develop tiltrotor aircraft for practical use. Currently, the V-247 from Bell (U.S.) and the UR-6000 from China are also reported to be under development.
From 2008 to 2011, KARI developed TR-60, a lightweight, cost-effective, high-performance tiltrotor UAV weighing approximately 200 kg. It was designed with a 5-hour endurance, 240 km/h top speed, 60 km mission radius, and a 20 kg payload capacity. After successfully demonstrating autonomous takeoff and landing as well as transition flight, KARI signed a technology transfer and joint development agreement with Korean Air in August 2011, leading to two years of collaborative development on TR-60-class tiltrotor UAVs.
The TR-60 is capable of flying at higher altitudes and greater speeds than helicopters, enabling a more efficient execution of wide-area missions, such as surveillance, search and rescue, reconnaissance, transport, and communication relay. Additionally, extended wings attached outside the tiltrotor nacelles have significantly enhanced the aircraft's endurance and range. VTOL capabilities have also been developed, enabling the aircraft to take off and land vertically from mobile platforms, such as ground vehicles and ships.
Tiltrotor technology offers significant potential not only for unmanned aircraft but also for manned applications. With its VTOL and high-speed flight capabilities, it is well-suited for eco-friendly urban transportation as an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) platform. It is also expected to be utilized in next-generation VTOL aircraft currently under development in the United States, Europe, and China.