26 Mar 2023
The program was initially launched in 2021, but only got a formal approval this year. This program aims to develop a UAV with VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) capabilities by 2031, with a total program cost of 550 billion Korean won (around $421 million) according to DAPA’s statement.
The new UAV will be equipped with a advanced aerial reconnaissance capabilities as well as EO/IR (Electro-Optical/Infrared) sensors to allow for better operational flexibility during the day, at night and in low-light or low-visibility conditions.
These capabilities are especially important since most of its operation will be carried in harsh maritime conditions onboard Yi Sun-Sin-class destroyers, as well as highly contested islands near the NLL (Northern Limit Line) that are under the jurisdiction of NIDC (Northwest Islands Defense Command). Notably Yeonpyeong and Baekryeong, with the former having been heavily bombarded by North Korea’s heavy artilleries attack back in November 2010.
While DAPA is yet to officially announce the preferred bidder for this program, it is a possibility that proposed UAV will be jointly developed by Korean Air’s Aerospace Division with technical assistance from France’s Airbus Helicopters. Both parties have signed an MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) in October last year regarding a cooperation on developing a new UAV for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) and Marine Corps (ROKMC).
Airbus Helicopters is currently working on the VSR 700 VTOL UAV with the DGA (the French equivalent of South Korea’s DAPA) for the French Navy’s SDAM program. As Naval News previously reported, the VSR 700 aced a maritime test phase in December 2022.
The South Korean program holds significant meaning to ROK Navy and Marine Corps. After the bombing of Yeonpyeong back in 2010, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff raised a formal requirement for the procurement of UAS to be used in the northwest islands area.
Later, DAPA signed a contract in the following year to procure an airship with aerial reconnaissance capabilities, but in 2015 the program itself had to be put off due to increasing budget and multiple crashes of the airship during the test phase.
After the proposed airship program was put in halt, ROK Navy and Marine Corps mostly had to rely on Air Force’s high-altitude reconnaissance capabilities. However, with the development of new UAS, it will effectively boost ROK Navy’s reconnaissance capabilities in its operational areas of concern and detect North Korea’s hostile moves against the South in advance.
DAPA also released in a statement that:
“This program will further strengthen ROK Navy’s ability on monitoring and inspecting its operational areas around Korean Peninsula, as well as promoting the domestic UAV/UAS industry.”
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