The Republic of Korea Armed Forces is poised to procure hundreds of loitering munitions from Poland in a deal that could reportedly reach 200 million Polish zlotys ($52 million).
Sources recently told local media outlets that around 200 Warmate man-portable kamikaze drones will be delivered to South Korea by the end of this year.
The agreement is also set to include an option for Seoul to purchase additional units in the future to further expand its loitering munitions fleet.
The two countries are expected to finalize the deal at the Korea International Defense Industry Exhibition (KADEX 2024) next month, which will feature over 500 exhibitors.
Once confirmed, the agreement will further strengthen the growing partnership between South Korea and Poland in the defense technology sector.
A ‘Versatile’ Loitering Munition
Developed by WB Electronics, the Warmate is equipped with a high-explosive warhead for engaging armored targets with precision.
It boasts an operational range of 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) and can remain airborne for up to 70 minutes.
The munition can seamlessly switch from reconnaissance to attack mode, offering military units enhanced flexibility and versatility on the battlefield.
Its lightweight design also allows for easy deployment by ground troops or mounting on vehicles for extended range.
The weapon was first fielded by the Polish Armed Forces in 2021 and sent to Ukraine a year after to help destroy Russian armored vehicles.
In addition to South Korea, India has also procured 100 of these loitering munitions to bolster its defense capabilities.