The Untold Story of a Decade of Resilience: How a Vietnamese Company Made History with a 5,000 UAV Deal to South Korea.

CT Group has recently garnered significant attention for their successful export deal of 5,000 unmanned cargo aircraft to South Korea. This achievement not only paves the way for CT Group but also opens up opportunities for other Vietnamese technology companies to enter demanding international markets. It serves as a testament to the capability of Vietnamese businesses to compete on a global scale.

However, few are aware of the decade-long journey of setbacks and failures that preceded this triumph.

As early as 2016, CT Group recognized the potential of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry and boldly ventured into this realm. Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, CT Group joined forces with one of the largest agricultural UAV companies in Vietnam at the time, establishing Dr. One. The name, a clever amalgamation of “Doctor” and “Drone,” embodied the ambitious dream of Vietnamese scientific advancement. Yet, along with this aspiration came myriad challenges.

Dr. One found itself “alone” in its pursuit of research and development (R&D), a costly and risky endeavor. While other shareholders favored quick profits through distribution, CT Group remained steadfast in its commitment to research. Internal conflicts, coupled with the economic crisis induced by the pandemic, led to the cessation of Dr. One’s operations.

Undeterred, CT Group shifted its focus to the military and industrial UAV markets, partnering with a leading Vietnamese UAV company. Together, they persevered in the realm of R&D, and during 2022-2023, CT Group sponsored the group’s foray into the Middle Eastern market. Their efforts culminated in a successful demonstration of their product before a high-ranking military official in a prominent Arab nation.

Building on this initial success, the group established CT AirUAV in 2023. However, the Middle Eastern market presented a formidable challenge. CT AirUAV faced consecutive failures due to the rapid market changes outpacing their research pace. Even the most ardent supporters began to lose faith, forcing CT AirUAV to undergo another transformation.

The years 2024 and 2025 marked a turning point, as CT UAV secured the export deal to South Korea and unveiled a string of groundbreaking products, including the CT-2W1, a UAV capable of carrying passengers with a wingspan of up to 200 km/h.

This UAV, the first of its kind in ASEAN, can carry up to five people and fly for up to two hours. CT UAV anticipated commencing mass production by the end of 2025 or early 2026.

Notably, the unmanned cargo aircraft exported to South Korea as per the recently signed agreement are heavy-lift UAVs, boasting a payload capacity ranging from 60 to 300 kg and an impressive 85% localization rate. CT Group has also developed UAVs integrated with artificial intelligence, combining semiconductor technology with network location identification systems.

The company is making significant investments in the UAV sector, with 16 UAV lines and a focus on the Low Altitude Economy (LAE).