South Korea aims to join China, US at top tier of ‘loyal wingman’ combat drone race

South Korea is developing a 4,500-pound-class turbofan engine through a joint project by Hanwha Aerospace and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (Kasa) to power 'loyal wingman' combat drones, aiming to compete globally in autonomous military systems. The program targets completion by 2029, positioning Seoul to rival China and the U.S. in this advanced defense technology sector.