# Korean Air Advances South Korean CCA Bid

Korean Air Aerospace Division is preparing its LOWUS uncrewed aircraft for flight testing by the end of 2026 and intends to compete in South Korea’s planned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) competition. The competition schedule and contract value have not been announced, while full-scale development is expected to begin in 2029. The program creates a potential opportunity for companies supplying autonomy, sensors, propulsion, and manned-unmanned teaming capabilities.

- Companies in those areas can assess their capabilities and potential teaming approaches ahead of the competition; Korean Air is a prospective bidder, and Hanwha is identified as an engine developer.
- Because competition timing and value remain unspecified, procurement and business planning should distinguish the near-term LOWUS flight-test milestone from the later anticipated start of full-scale development in 2029.
- The program’s planned development timeline gives suppliers a basis for assessing whether their technologies and delivery plans align with South Korea’s CCA effort.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** November 09, 2026

### Government Entities
- Agency for Defense Development (ADD)
- Government of South Korea

### Vendors
- Korean Air Aerospace Division (KE-ASD) (Bidder for South Korea’s planned CCA competition)
- Hanwha (Engine developer)

### Sources
- [Korean Air Aerospace pushes forward with Collaborative Combat Aircraft plans - Breaking Defense](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/11/korean-air-aerospace-pushes-forward-with-collaborative-combat-aircraft-plans) - Breaking Defense