Hanwha Systems (CEO Seo-chul Eo) is moving forward with the development of a 'UAM Air Shuttle' business connecting the integrated new airport in Daegu and Gyeongbuk with Daegu's urban area.

On the 27th, Hanwha Systems, together with the 'K-UAM Dream Team' consortium consisting of Korea Airports Corporation (President Hyung-joong Yun), SK Telecom (CEO Young-sang Yoo), and T map Mobility (Representative Jong-ho Lee), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Daegu Metropolitan City (Mayor Jun-pyo Hong) at the '2022 Daegu International Future Mobility Expo' held at Daegu EXCO for promoting UAM commercialization.

The 'K-UAM Dream Team' will establish UAM air shuttles between the integrated new airport in Daegu and Gyeongbuk and downtown areas such as Dongdaegu Station to enhance accessibility and convenience to the new airport, and will promote the creation of a metropolitan transportation network (RAM) connecting Daegu, a hub city, by forming a Daegu and Gyeongbuk UAM network.

Daegu City and the 'K-UAM Dream Team' consortium will undergo demonstration phases from 2023 to 2025, including virtual flight scenario verification and service route development. Starting from 2026, the consortium will launch pilot projects to identify tourism and business demand, and plans to establish profitable routes through expanded service routes in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk metropolitan area.

With the opening of the integrated new airport in Daegu and Gyeongbuk in 2030, UAM services in Daegu will enter full-scale commercialization. To grow into a 'UAM-specialized smart city,' Daegu City plans to establish UAM infrastructure at the integrated new airport in Daegu and Gyeongbuk and at the site of the former Daegu Airport.

Hanwha Systems plans to participate in the development of UAM control and navigation solutions for the integrated new airport in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, and will be responsible for supplying aircraft for the 'UAM Air Shuttle' business between urban areas and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.

Hanwha Systems is preparing for real-scale unmanned prototype flight tests next year and is proceeding on schedule with Overair Inc. of the United States, its co-developer, to obtain FAA Type Certificate from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in 2025. The company is also specialized in developing control systems for navigation and control infrastructure (CNSi) required for UAM operations.

Through this MOU signing, the 'K-UAM Dream Team' consortium decided to rapidly promote UAM commercial services in Daegu through a highly collaborative business model that combines the strengths of private companies, public enterprises, and local governments.

Korea Airports Corporation will provide UAM vertiport construction linked to the integrated new airport in Daegu and Gyeongbuk and UAM traffic management services utilizing air navigation facilities, SK Telecom will handle UAM service operations and UAM-specialized aerial networks, T map Mobility will develop and operate a Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform between UAM and ground transportation, and Daegu Metropolitan City will be responsible for providing UAM operation sites and infrastructure as well as licensing and administrative support.

Seo-chul Eo, CEO of Hanwha Systems, stated: "With the integrated new airport in Daegu and Gyeongbuk developing as a central aviation hub in the central-southern region, we will contribute to regional mobility innovation through UAM, a new transportation mode connecting not only Daegu attractions but also Gyeongbuk tourism resources such as Gyeongju and Pohang," and added: "We believe that the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions will develop further through the UAM industry, which is analyzed to generate ripple effects and growth momentum such as 160,000 domestic jobs and 23 trillion won in induced production by 2040."

Mayor Jun-pyo Hong of Daegu said: "Through this agreement, we expect significant contribution to establishing UAM business milestones in Daegu with the consortium possessing the highest domestic capabilities in UAM-related fields," and stated: "We will provide policy support without reservation so that Daegu can become a game-changer in the UAM market with the opening of the integrated new airport in Daegu and Gyeongbuk."