Blab Tech
South Korean Startup Airbility Aims to Offer Cost-Effective Counter-Drone Platform
When a drone costs a fraction of a missile, defense budgets feel the sting. Airbility, a Seoul‑based startup founded in late 2023, is building an artificial‑intelligence‑powered counter‑drone system that rides on a high‑speed electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. In a recent interview with The Korea Times, CEO and co‑founder Lee Jin‑mo explained that the company’s platform could provide a cheaper alternative to traditional missile‑based air defense.
The rising price of intercepting low‑cost drones sets the stage for Airbility’s innovation. In the recent U.S.–Israeli conflict against Iran, the cost of a single interceptor missile reportedly exceeded 100 times the price of the drone it was meant to destroy. Lee noted that “this problem cannot be solved simply by deploying more expensive weapons.”
Airbility’s flagship aircraft, the AB‑U60, measures about 3 meters across and can cruise at over 200 kilometres per hour once it transitions from vertical lift to fixed‑wing flight. The platform can carry payloads of up to 10 kilograms and is designed as a multirole vehicle that performs cargo transport, surveillance, and counter‑drone missions. During a counter‑drone operation, the AB‑U60 serves as a reusable carrier that releases interceptor drones near the target before returning to base.
According to the CEO, the AB‑U60’s speed gives it a 2.5‑times advantage over typical attack drones—a critical edge for intercepting fast‑moving threats. The company has completed transition flights with three prototype aircraft, a milestone that only a few firms worldwide have achieved.
Airbility’s founding team includes former engineers from the Agency for Defense Development and Hyundai Motor Group, who contributed to Korea’s KT‑1 trainer, T‑50 supersonic aircraft, and KF‑21 fighter jet programs. Lee said the team brings decades of experience in aerospace and mobility.
The South Korean government’s recent investment in unmanned warfare has created a favorable environment for counter‑drone solutions. The Ministry of National Defense announced plans to acquire more than 20,000 low‑cost drones as part of a broader overhaul of its unmanned warfare strategy. In March, an inter‑ministry task force was launched to strengthen the domestic drone industry.
Airbility expects its first customers to be military and government agencies. The company said that “military demonstration programs and counter‑drone R&D projects led by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration are likely to become our first reference projects.”
Beyond the domestic market, Airbility is expanding overseas. The CEO explained that many advanced U.S. technologies are subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). As a Korean company with fewer geopolitical constraints, Airbility can serve overseas clients that have limited access to U.S. suppliers. The startup is currently working with Vietnam’s CT Group and Saudi Arabia’s SANAD Industrial Company to explore partnerships and localized production.
Supply‑chain independence is another competitive advantage. Airbility develops its own battery packs and flight‑control software to reduce reliance on Chinese‑made components.
The company is in the final stages of its Series A funding round. Upon completion, cumulative funding is expected to reach 10 billion won (about $6.4 million), including private investment and government‑backed research and development support. Airbility plans to use the proceeds to expand production capacity and accelerate its overseas expansion.
Lee said the next five years will focus on building a meaningful track record in the market. The company aims to generate more than 50 billion won in cumulative revenue by 2028 and pursue an initial public offering the following year.
At present, Airbility’s AB‑U60 platform remains in the prototype and demonstration phase, with no commercial customers yet. The company’s progress will be closely watched as South Korea and other nations seek more affordable counter‑drone solutions in an era of proliferating low‑cost unmanned aircraft.
The rising price of intercepting low‑cost drones sets the stage for Airbility’s innovation. In the recent U.S.–Israeli conflict against Iran, the cost of a single interceptor missile reportedly exceeded 100 times the price of the drone it was meant to destroy. Lee noted that “this problem cannot be solved simply by deploying more expensive weapons.”
Airbility’s flagship aircraft, the AB‑U60, measures about 3 meters across and can cruise at over 200 kilometres per hour once it transitions from vertical lift to fixed‑wing flight. The platform can carry payloads of up to 10 kilograms and is designed as a multirole vehicle that performs cargo transport, surveillance, and counter‑drone missions. During a counter‑drone operation, the AB‑U60 serves as a reusable carrier that releases interceptor drones near the target before returning to base.
According to the CEO, the AB‑U60’s speed gives it a 2.5‑times advantage over typical attack drones—a critical edge for intercepting fast‑moving threats. The company has completed transition flights with three prototype aircraft, a milestone that only a few firms worldwide have achieved.
Airbility’s founding team includes former engineers from the Agency for Defense Development and Hyundai Motor Group, who contributed to Korea’s KT‑1 trainer, T‑50 supersonic aircraft, and KF‑21 fighter jet programs. Lee said the team brings decades of experience in aerospace and mobility.
The South Korean government’s recent investment in unmanned warfare has created a favorable environment for counter‑drone solutions. The Ministry of National Defense announced plans to acquire more than 20,000 low‑cost drones as part of a broader overhaul of its unmanned warfare strategy. In March, an inter‑ministry task force was launched to strengthen the domestic drone industry.
Airbility expects its first customers to be military and government agencies. The company said that “military demonstration programs and counter‑drone R&D projects led by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration are likely to become our first reference projects.”
Beyond the domestic market, Airbility is expanding overseas. The CEO explained that many advanced U.S. technologies are subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). As a Korean company with fewer geopolitical constraints, Airbility can serve overseas clients that have limited access to U.S. suppliers. The startup is currently working with Vietnam’s CT Group and Saudi Arabia’s SANAD Industrial Company to explore partnerships and localized production.
Supply‑chain independence is another competitive advantage. Airbility develops its own battery packs and flight‑control software to reduce reliance on Chinese‑made components.
The company is in the final stages of its Series A funding round. Upon completion, cumulative funding is expected to reach 10 billion won (about $6.4 million), including private investment and government‑backed research and development support. Airbility plans to use the proceeds to expand production capacity and accelerate its overseas expansion.
Lee said the next five years will focus on building a meaningful track record in the market. The company aims to generate more than 50 billion won in cumulative revenue by 2028 and pursue an initial public offering the following year.
At present, Airbility’s AB‑U60 platform remains in the prototype and demonstration phase, with no commercial customers yet. The company’s progress will be closely watched as South Korea and other nations seek more affordable counter‑drone solutions in an era of proliferating low‑cost unmanned aircraft.
