KE-1N Gray heron
| KE-1N Gray heron | |
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| Role | Airborne Battle Management and ISTAR UAV |
| National origin |  Joseon
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| Manufacturer | Daesung Aerospace,. Inc. |
| First flight | 7 December 2023 |
| Introduction | 15 April 2024 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Royal Joseon Navy |
| Produced | 2024-2029 |
| Number built | 36 |
The KE-1N Gray heron is a Carrier-Based Ground Surveillance Aircraft developed for ground surveillance and real-time battlefield analysis.
Development
Design
The KE-1N can monitor up to 1,000 targets using a X-Band synthetic aperture radar(SAR) attached to the underside of the fuselage. With a 360-degree range, the radar can monitor areas up to a 350 km radius in real-time, and can detect targets ranging from 0.3m in size to larger ones. Using this superior detection capability, the radar can identify detailed information about targets such as enemy tanks, trucks, and SAM batteries and transmit information to command and ground units. The radar can also identify enemy low-speed aircraft or helicopters flying at an altitude lower than KE-1N.
The KE-1N can be linked with Joseon's Battle Management System, Gongmyeong-2E, to share real-time information with other units and vehicles, aircraft, ships, and command units. Interworking information with each unit, the KE-1N acts as a kind of air command post, and can deliver real-time battlefield information to over thousands of friendly units and command each unit.
The KE-1N reduces the RCS of aircraft by applying Radar Absorbent Material throughout the fuselage. The RCS of KE-1N is not known in detail, but according to disclosed during the National Assembly's interpellation session, the RCS of KE-1N is comparable to that of a typical light prop aircraft.
The KE-1N is equipped with a landing gear that is enhanced for operation on the CATOBAR aircraft carriers and is also equipped with a tailhook. The wings of the aircraft are designed to be retractable to facilitate storage in aircraft carrier hangars.
Artificial intelligence
The KE-1N has robust and reliable self-management and self-flight capabilities through advanced algorithms running on high-performance processors. The management system has full control over the aircraft in a variety of situations, including aircraft condition monitoring and error detection, fuel condition monitoring, maximum g loads management, take-off and landing, flight control, waypoint navigation, aerial rendezvous, and aerial refueling. Management systems can also operate in conjunction with manned or other unmanned aerial vehicles, requiring little human intervention. If communication with human commanders is not smooth due to enemy electronic warfare, management systems control aircraft to complete pre-populated tasks and return to base.
The management system is powered by powerful, highly autonomous AI. These features are backed by algorithms such as self-defense, and threat assessment algorithm.
Protection
The KE-1N is equipped with many consumable decoys, such as chaff, and flares, to neutralize the enemy's missile threat, and is also equipped with an ECM system.
Also, The KE-1N has military-grade protection against non-nuclear and nuclear shock wave EMPs.
Operators
| Overview |
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