AD System
About
About AD System
AD System develops military uncrewed aircraft from airframe design through composite manufacturing, flight-control and avionics software, and systems integration. Its catalogue includes VTOL fixed-wing aircraft for reconnaissance and smaller drones for operator training. The company is headquartered in Cheonan and operates manufacturing and research facilities in Hwaseong.
In 2026 it secured a Korean Army order for 3,792 AD-ME1 training drones. A KRW13 billion Series A is intended to expand automated manufacturing capacity and support development of the AD-4000 platform, which remains a planned next-generation aircraft.
Operations
Output & shipments
- Deliveries
2026-09-26 - AD System reported sales of more than 40 AD-2100 VTOL unmanned aircraft. - AD-2100 VTOL UAV
Source
Funding
- 2026-09-16 - Series A - $8.8M - AD Systems closes Series A to expand UAV production
AD Systems raised KRW13B in a Series A led by LB Investment to develop contested-environment UAV technology and increase manufacturing automation. - source: mt.co.kr
Investors
- Flux Ventures - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-09-16
- Innopolis Partners - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-09-16
- Korea Development Bank - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-09-16
- LB Investment - Lead - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-09-16
- Mirae Asset Capital - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-09-16
- Mirae Asset Venture Capital - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-09-16
- SmileGate Investment - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-09-16
Team
- Kim Jeong-ho - Founder and Chief Executive Officer - Leads the company’s vertically integrated VTOL UAV design, production and testing programmes.
Timeline
Events
- 2026-09-16 - Funding - AD Systems closes Series A to expand UAV production
Korea Development Bank, SmileGate Investment, Mirae Asset Venture Capital, Mirae Asset Capital, Flux Ventures and Innopolis Partners also participated. The company plans to expand production facilities and automation equipment while continuing development of its AD-4000 platform. An existing KRW8.7B Army programme calls for delivery of 3,792 AD-ME1 training drones.
Source - 2026-07-30 - Contract Award - AD Systems wins Korean Army order for 3,792 training drones
The agreement was signed with the Korean armed forces central contracting authority on July 30. The AD-ME1 aircraft are intended for Army drone-operator training; delivery is due by December 27, 2026. AD Systems is one of three suppliers selected for a broader Korean military training-drone procurement programme.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- Republic of Korea Army
Army Training Drone Customer - AD Systems contracted to supply 3,792 AD-ME1 training drones for Republic of Korea Army units by 27 December 2026.
Context
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Context tags
- Defence UAV builder - Stack Layer - https://adsystem.kr/ — current evidence supports this bounded profile context.
- Fixed-Wing VTOL UAV - Stack Layer - https://www.mt.co.kr/index.php/amp/future/2026/07/13/2026070916555478448 — current evidence supports this bounded profile context.
- Vertically integrated UAV manufacturing - Capability - https://www.mt.co.kr/index.php/amp/future/2026/07/13/2026070916555478448 — current evidence supports this bounded profile context.
Commercial
- AD Systems wins Korean Army order for 3,792 training drones
2026-07-30 · Order / contract · AD Systems signed a roughly KRW8.7 billion manufacturing contract to supply 3,792 AD-ME1 training drones for designated Korean Army delivery units.
Source