Hanwha Systems and Overair expressed their confidence in securing the safety of UAM aircraft.

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong visited Overair, a strategic investment by Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Aerospace, in Los Angeles, USA on January 11 (local time, January 10). CEO Ben Tigner and founder Abe Karem discussed technological cooperation between the two countries.

Overair is a company that develops and produces core components such as UAM propulsion systems for Hanwha Systems and supplies system assembly technology to 'Karem Aircraft', founded by Abe Karem, an authority in the drone field.

The two companies began joint development in 2020 and are currently developing the aircraft (Butterfly), aiming for prototype production by the end of this year and commercialization in 2026.

Minister Won said during this on-site visit, “I understand that Overair’s aircraft ‘Butterfly’, which incorporates the outstanding technologies of both countries, focuses on high energy efficiency, quietness, and safety. He raised expectations by saying, “I hope that it will be reborn as a competitive aircraft in the global market,” and “Wouldn’t it be possible to produce it in Korea in the future?”

In his meeting with Minister Won, Overair CEO Ben Tigner expressed his confidence, saying, “Butterfly can minimize battery usage and noise, and secure high safety by utilizing a technology called OSTR (Optimum Speed Tilt Rotor), which controls the speed of the propeller in real time depending on the external environment.”

Minister Won held a meeting to encourage and support the hard work of the technicians dispatched to Overair.

“I am proud of our engineers who are struggling as key personnel in this cutting-edge UAM field,” he emphasized. “The UAM field is a comprehensive convergence business ranging from manufacturing, IT, and operation, and is a field expected to grow explosively. If not now, it will be too late. We must shake up the global UAM market and drive Korea’s future growth by converging Korea’s advanced technological infrastructures.”