S. Korea to Invest $479M in Indigenous Surveillance Drones
The South Korean military approved a proposal on Monday to domestically manufacture reconnaissance and surveillance drones by 2031 to improve the country’s defense capabilities, particularly in the northwestern border islands.
With a reported budget of 570 billion won ($479 million), the project would supply unmanned platforms to navy warships and marine corps units deployed on frontline islands.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration explained that the new drones would reinforce the military’s capability to respond to potential security threats through real-time monitoring of maritime areas.
The surveillance and intelligence gathering capabilities of the South Korean armed forces are particularly important amid the long-term threat posed by North Korea.
This year, the country’s Agency for Defense Development announced that it has secured core technologies such as aerial structure design technology and flight control algorithms needed in developing low-visibility, tailless drones.
South Korea Is Working on Game-Changing Stealth Military Drone Technology https://t.co/vNHdM5Ci7b pic.twitter.com/HnJFNcAL3G
— Flyin18T Motorsports (@Flyin18T) December 23, 2021
Expanding Drone Arsenal
South Korea has reportedly gathered important information and help from other nations regarding the development and deployment of drones, monitoring how the US Army utilizes the equipment, and seeking technological assistance from Israel.
South Korea currently operates the RQ-101 and the Israeli-made Searcher II and Heron drones.
Korea Aviation Technologies also unveiled an electronic vertical take-off and landing aircraft prototype for surveillance and reconnaissance missions at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition 2021.
This year, South Korean Army Chief of Staff Gen. Nam Yeong-shin announced that the country is accelerating efforts to deploy a drone robot-based (drone bot) combat system to adapt to new battle environments.
News from South Korea
Korea Aviation Technologies (KAT) has unveiled the prototype of KAT-20 Black Swan, an e-VTOL Fixed Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Korean Air, currently in the process of developing a VTOL Surveillance UAV System and has unveiled the prototype of the drone pic.twitter.com/wLqjcpIkdK
— Vayu Aerospace Review (@ReviewVayu) October 22, 2021
Additional Investments
In addition to surveillance drones, the South Korean military has approved a plan outline to manufacture an indigenous landing attack helicopter valued at 450 billion won ($378 million).
The Defense Project Promotion Committee also approved a proposal worth 1.4 trillion won ($1.1 billion) to acquire large military choppers from foreign aerospace firms to replace the country’s aging CH-47D helicopters.
Moreover, the committee has endorsed a plan for the mass production of a wheeled armored vehicle by 2029.
