Over the next five years, the South Korean military plans to spend $441 million on equipment that can identify and destroy UAVs.
The plan was included in the draught military budget for the years 2023-2027 that the Ministry of National Defense released on December 28.
Using aircraft-mounted laser weapons and electronic suppression systems, the South Korean military would carry out a series of programs to improve its capabilities to defeat unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as outlined in the draught.
“The laser weapons program is in the experimental phase and could be deployed from 2027. The electronic jammer will also improve the response to small UAVs,” the ministry said. They plan to add one more UAV unit with at least two squadrons during this period.
Korean KM-SAM anti-aircraft missile batteries in a 2020 exercise. Photo: Yonhap.
The proposed military spending bill would allow the South Korean military to buy more stealth planes, submarines, and more for a total of $261 billion over five years. This represents an annual increase in the defence budget of 6.8 percent. Ballistic missiles hasten the creation of rocket interceptors.
If North Korea launches a nuclear attack or uses a WMD, “we will improve our ability to strike back and impose overwhelming sanctions to maintain the ability to destroy all important facilities on the territory of North Korea,” he stated. According to a statement released by the Korean Ministry of National Defense.
The draft will have to be approved by the Korean parliament before it can be implemented.
The South Korean military spotted five unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) belonging to North Korea on December 26, crossing the border. The first plane headed straight for Seoul’s north, while the other four flew around Ganghwa Island to the west.
This is the first time a North Korean drone has entered South Korean airspace in the past five years. South Korea deployed fighters, armed helicopters, and light attack aircraft to respond, even firing 100 rounds of artillery, but failed to bring down any UAVs.
A Korean light attack aircraft crashed during an emergency take-off to deal with a UAV.
On December 27, the Joint Chiefs of Staff in South Korea expressed regret over their inability to intercept and destroy North Korean drones. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol lashed out at the defence minister, claiming the episode demonstrated the military’s unreadiness for combat.