The KRONE Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Construction Club, affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul), won the Grand Prize at the 26th National College Student Model Aircraft Competition and the 17th Pusan National University President's Cup Creative Aircraft Competition (Integrated Competition), held over two days from August 29 to 30.

This integrated competition was jointly hosted by Gyeongsang National University and Pusan National University. University teams from across the nation competed through academic and flight evaluations, showcasing creativity in aircraft design, the sophistication of manufacturing techniques, and mission execution capabilities. Kookmin University's KRONE participated with a total of 35 students, including one rotary-wing team and two fixed-wing teams, comprehensively demonstrating their academic expertise and flight technology.

Notably, the team achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Grand Prize for the third consecutive year at this competition. Having secured the Grand Prize five times over the past six years since 2020, they once again proved their status as the nation's premier unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) club. Furthermore, they simultaneously won both the Excellence Award and Encouragement Award at the concurrent GNU Dassault Systèmes Korea CATIA Design Report Competition, earning recognition for their academic achievements as well.

These achievements represent a comprehensive capability that extends beyond mere manufacturing skills. They are the result of original structural design, mission strategy formulation, and actual flight execution, all grounded in the design theory and engineering knowledge honed within Kookmin University's Department of Mechanical Engineering. KRONE is recognized as a prime example of practical, hands-on education, applying theories learned in lectures—such as aerodynamics, structural mechanics, and control engineering—to actual manufacturing and flight.

This award was made possible by the dedicated guidance and encouragement of Professor Lim Si Hyung, Dean of the College of Creative Engineering and KRONE's supervising professor, along with the full support of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Consistent attention and sponsorship at the department level provided a foundation for students to demonstrate their creativity and practical skills while taking on challenges, ultimately leading to this remarkable achievement.

Dean Lim Si Hyung (Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering) stated, “We will not rest on this achievement but plan to continue our research and challenges,” adding, “We will do our utmost to enhance Kookmin University's prestige while contributing to the advancement of the aerospace field.”