South Korea is considering purchasing an advanced Israeli-made drone tracking system, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency, citing defense sources.
Named the Sky Spotter, the system will be used to detect small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) coming from North Korea and other adversaries.
According to the report, Seoul’s military will decide whether or not to submit a formal acquisition request “in the coming weeks.”
It will reportedly conduct an initial review of the system’s effectiveness before proceeding with the purchase.
The Sky Spotter
Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the Sky Spotter can perform early detection and tracking of drones and balloons used for terrorist attacks.
It has a passive early warning system to provide high-probability detection of enemy assets and a very low rate of false alarms.
According to the company, the system uses advanced algorithms for automation and improved image processing.
The system offers 24/7 persistent detection capability, tracking multiple targets simultaneously.
“Sky Spotter is a vital component for air situational awareness,” Rafael states on its website. “This warning system establishes a passive aerial defense sphere, from a one-kilometer radius to tens of kilometers and more.”
Recent Drone Intrusion
South Korea’s consideration of an advanced drone detection system comes after five North Korean UAVs infiltrated South Korean airspace late last month.
One drone even intruded into the no-fly zone near the presidential office in the Yongsan district.
Defense authorities received fierce public criticism for their alleged failure to counter the penetration.
“This is a clear act of provocation by the North violating our airspace,” South Korean official Lee Seung-o said, as quoted by The Jerusalem Post.