Vietnam's CT Group to Export 5,000 Cargo Drones to South Korea
Vietnam has marked a significant milestone in its burgeoning technology sector, securing its inaugural major export deal for unmanned cargo aircraft with South Korea. The landmark agreement, signed on August 12, 2025, during the high-profile Vietnam–Korea Economic Forum in Seoul, sees Vietnam’s CT Group commit to supplying 5,000 heavy-duty unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to an emerging South Korean drone technology company. This deal not only underscores Vietnam’s growing prowess in advanced manufacturing but also highlights the deepening economic ties between the two nations.
The memorandum of understanding was a focal point of the economic forum, attended by prominent figures including General Secretary To Lam of Vietnam and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min Seok, signifying the strategic importance both countries place on technological collaboration. The forum itself reinforced commitments to expand bilateral economic, trade, and investment cooperation, aiming for ambitious trade targets of US$100 billion by 2025 and US$150 billion by 2030, with science, technology, and innovation identified as crucial pillars.
At the heart of this export deal is CT UAV, a subsidiary of CT Group, which has rapidly emerged as a pioneer in Vietnam’s drone industry. The company’s heavy-duty cargo UAVs are designed to carry substantial payloads ranging from 60 to 300 kilograms. A key differentiator for CT UAV is the impressive 85% localization rate of its drones, coupled with proprietary Vietnamese technology, including self-sufficiency in semiconductor chip design. This domestic capability provides a significant competitive advantage and has garnered praise from international partners, including South Korea. CT UAV integrates artificial intelligence into its drones, enabling self-learning and autonomous decision-making, positioning them at the forefront of spatial automation.
This export order is a vivid testament to Vietnam’s rising capabilities in high-tech fields. It signals a new era for the country’s UAV technology, affirming its mastery of core technologies and bolstering its strategic position on the global technology map. The Vietnamese drone market has been experiencing significant growth, with projections indicating a rise from approximately USD 63.8 million in 2024 to USD 193.2 million by 2032. The Vietnamese government has actively supported this expansion, allocating over USD 50 million towards UAV research and development in 2024, particularly focusing on AI integration to enhance efficiency across various sectors, including agriculture and defense.
For South Korea, a recognized global technology hub with a demanding market, the acquisition of these Vietnamese-made cargo drones aligns with its broader vision for smart logistics. The South Korean government has ambitious plans to establish a smart logistics infrastructure network, aiming to achieve rapid delivery of products by robots in 2026 and by drones in 2027, cutting delivery times in major cities to under an hour. South Korea has already been piloting various drone delivery services, including food and commercial parcel deliveries, demonstrating a clear intent to integrate unmanned aerial systems into its urban and national logistics frameworks.
Beyond the drone export, CT Group also announced a separate agreement to export 100 million semiconductor chips to a South Korean partner. This parallel deal further underscores Vietnam’s growing ambition and capacity in highly complex technological sectors, particularly semiconductors, a domain traditionally dominated by a handful of developed nations. This dual export success not only promises to stimulate Vietnam’s national economic growth but also significantly enhances its prestige and standing on the international stage, positioning the nation as a formidable player in the global high-tech landscape.