What AD System does

AD System (에이디시스템) is a South Korean unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developer founded in May 2019 and headquartered in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, with an additional production factory in Suwon-si. The company designs, manufactures, and services vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones built on in-house carbon composite airframes, featuring proprietary low-observable (stealth) design with verified radar cross-section reductions of 80% (AD-3000) and 95% (AD-4000), proprietary ground control station software compatible with PX4/Ardupilot, and embedded AI-based object recognition and tracking on its reconnaissance and attack platforms. Its product portfolio spans the multi-purpose AD-2100 and AD-2100 PRO (90-minute flight, 30 km radius), the stealth AD-3000 (150-minute flight, 207 km cruise range, micro-attack drone ejection), the stealth AD-4000 with hybrid propulsion (up to 400-minute flight), and the AD-150MD educational drone.

The company's commercial focus is direct B2B sales of hardware to government and defense customers — primarily the Republic of Korea Army — and to domestic small and medium enterprises for surveying, mapping, agricultural, and island-logistics applications. With 30+ units of AD-2100 sold or on order, revenue is generated through direct sales on multi-year contract terms with no publicly disclosed pricing. The business is vertically integrated from design through carbon composite manufacturing, supplemented by a strategic consortium with Neon Tech (system integration and flight control) and SaleX (anti-jamming) targeting 1,000+ stealth UAVs operationalized and exported by 2027. Distribution is currently concentrated in South Korea, with Vietnam identified as an early Southeast Asian target market and broader export ambitions embedded in the consortium roadmap.

Name

AD System

Legal name

주식회사 에이디시스템

Website

https://adsystem.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AD System (에이디시스템) is a South Korean UAV developer founded in 2019 that designs and manufactures stealth VTOL drones with AI-based object recognition, supplying primarily the Republic of Korea Army and domestic SMEs for reconnaissance, surveying, and logistics applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Aircraft & Parts (3720), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Military Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) & Autonomous Aerial Platforms (IMABAMAC), Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aircraft (UAV) (IMABAIAB), Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO)

Keywords

• Unmanned aerial vehicles
• Vertical takeoff landing
• Stealth drone systems
• Defense reconnaissance drones
• Carbon composite UAVs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hannam

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Drone/UAV Hardware Sales: Sale of unmanned aerial vehicles including AD-2100, AD-3000, AD-4000 series. Products sold to military (대한민국 육군) and domestic SMEs with 30+ units of AD-2100 sold and on order. Pricing based on configuration and specifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AD System designs, manufactures, sells, and repairs unmanned aerial vehicles including vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing drones. Its portfolio spans the AD-2100 multi-purpose series for surveying and reconnaissance, the AD-3000 stealth VTOL UAV for coastal and battalion-level reconnaissance, and the AD-4000 multi-purpose stealth UAV supporting both reconnaissance and attack missions with AI-based object recognition and tracking.

Product overview

AD System (에이디시스템) is a Korean unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developer founded in 2019, offering a portfolio of proprietary drones spanning three tiers: the AD-2100/AD-2100 PRO series for multi-purpose surveying and reconnaissance, the AD-3000 and AD-4000 for stealth military reconnaissance and attack missions, and large VTOL cargo drones (AD-3000/AD-3500). The company also provides educational drone solutions. All platforms are built in-house using carbon composite materials, from design through mass production, and incorporate AI-based object recognition and tracking for mission-critical operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AD-2100 (including AD-2100 PRO variant) Multi-purpose VTOL fixed-wing UAV with fully autonomous flight, high-lift delta wing design, 7.8kg max takeoff weight, 1.2kg payload, 90min flight time, 30km operating radius (100km cruise). Used for aerial surveying, surveillance/reconnaissance, agricultural vegetation surveys, and small cargo transport. Compatible with PX4/Ardupilot ground control station.
• AD-3000 Low-observability (stealth) VTOL UAV with 80% RCS reduction through low-RCS design and stealth coating. 15kg max takeoff weight, 2.5kg payload, 150min flight time, 207km cruise range. Specialized for coastal and battalion-level reconnaissance with AI-powered object recognition and tracking. Capable of launching micro-attack unmanned aircraft.
• AD-4000 Multi-purpose UAV achieving 95% radar cross-section reduction through advanced low-observability design and stealth coating application. Specializes in simultaneous reconnaissance and attack missions including direct collision and small attack drone launch capabilities. Features AI-based object recognition and tracking. Supports both electric and engine propulsion with hybrid configuration reaching 400-minute flight time.
• Large VTOL UAV Solution (AD-3500) Aerial cargo transport solution featuring the AD-3500 for long-range large cargo. Designed to deliver rapid logistics to underserved island communities with a 40km operational radius and 70–100 km/h speed.
• Educational Drone Solution Small educational drone solution for K-12 and vocational training. Covers the full drone lifecycle from development and maintenance to configuration and flight operations, enabling step-by-step skill progression for drone education and pilot training.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% increased flight time (90min) and 7% weight reduction in AD-2100 PRO compared to original AD-2100
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• LIG Nex1 (LIG넥스원)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Domestic defense partner. AI-related service contract in March 2024.
• Neon Tech (네온테크)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Strategic consortium for next-generation stealth drone development. Neon Tech developing system integration and control software plus flight control devices for stealth UAV platforms. Joint roadmap targets 1,000+ stealth drones by 2027.
• SaleX (세일엑스)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Strategic consortium for next-generation stealth drone development. SaleX developing anti-jamming systems using electromagnetic shielding filters for stealth UAV applications. Joint roadmap targets 1,000+ stealth drones by 2027.
• ETL (주식회사 ETL)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023MOA and NDA signed for collaboration on R&D.
• Raon Structural Safety Technology (라온구조안전기술)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2021MOU signed for collaboration.
• D-Makers (디메이커스)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2019MOU signed in December 2019 for collaboration.
• Gunchuk Text (군집텍)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2019MOU signed in November 2019 for collaboration.
• Korea Aerospace Research Institute (항공우주연구원)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDomestic partner for aerospace research and development collaboration.
• LIG Systems (LIG시스템)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI-related service contract for unmanned aircraft development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Skydio: US-based autonomous drone manufacturer focused on AI-enabled flight and computer vision. Comparable in AI-driven autonomy technology applied to drone platforms, though focuses on smaller tactical systems rather than VTOL fixed-wing.

Direct peers

• Shield AI: US-based defense tech company developing autonomous VTOL UAVs (V-BAT) for military reconnaissance and ISR missions. Direct competitor in autonomous military drone space targeting similar defense customers with AI-enabled flight systems.
• Anduril Industries: US defense technology company building autonomous systems including UAVs (Roadrunner, Ghost) for military applications. Competes in AI-enabled military drone space with focus on autonomy and mission-critical capabilities, overlapping with AD System's stealth reconnaissance thesis.
• Quantum Systems: German company specializing in VTOL fixed-wing UAVs (Vector, Trinity) for defense and commercial reconnaissance. Direct peer in VTOL UAV architecture serving military and security customers across Europe and allied markets.
• Tekever: Portugal-based UAV manufacturer offering VTOL fixed-wing drones (AR3, AR4, AR5) for military surveillance and border security. Direct competitor in tactical VTOL UAV segment with similar dual-use positioning across military and commercial markets.
• Threod Systems: Estonian UAV manufacturer producing tactical VTOL fixed-wing systems for military reconnaissance. Comparable VTOL architecture, defense customer focus, and small-team operating model make this a strong peer despite different geography.
• Arcturus UAV: US-based manufacturer of tactical VTOL UAVs (Jump series) for military ISR and payload delivery missions. Direct peer in vertical takeoff fixed-wing architecture serving defense customers with similar mission profiles.

Broad incumbents

• Hanwha Aerospace: Korean defense prime with broad aerospace and UAV capabilities serving the Republic of Korea military. Major incumbent in the same Korean defense procurement ecosystem AD System targets, with vastly larger resources and existing program positions.
• Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI): Korean aerospace prime manufacturer producing military aircraft and UAV systems. Established incumbent competing for Korean defense UAV contracts with full-scale aerospace manufacturing capabilities AD System lacks.
• LIG Nex1: Korean Tier-1 defense prime in precision-guided weapons and unmanned systems. Both partner (AI service contract) and competitor in defense UAV market, with established prime contractor relationships with ROK military.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@adsystem1975

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors14 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AD System