(EDITORIAL from The Korea Herald on Nov. 6)
A weapon's price says little about the cost of stopping it. A drone costing a fr...
South Korea must adapt its drone defense strategy in response to a shifting landscape of warfare, marked by a growing threat from drones. The cost of a drone is but a fraction of what it costs to counter it, as demonstrated in recent conflicts like Ukraine and the Middle East. This imbalance has made interception economics a critical military concern.
South Korea's strategic position, with its critical infrastructure concentrated in a small area, leaves it vulnerable to a neighboring power with a formidable military. In response, the Defense Drone Agency was established on November 6, replacing the Drone Operations Command, which was criticized for its involvement in martial law proceedings.
This new agency will oversee policy and support drone development and acquisition, with each service running its own drone operations. The Joint Chiefs of Staff will coordinate these efforts. The agency currently has around 100 personnel, a significant increase from the previous 280, with mid- and senior-ranking specialists comprising 50% of the force.
North Korea is bolstering its own drone arsenal, with recent exhibitions showcasing a variety of unmanned aircraft, including attack drones and a large stealth-shaped plane. Kim Jong-un has emphasized the importance of drone superiority and ordered faster development. North Korea has also demonstrated its capabilities through simulated drone strikes against mock South Korean targets, hinting at the potential for more aggressive tactics.
South Korea's recent trials of domestically developed drones have shown the gap between procurement plans and usable weapons. In August, two exploding drones launched from the ROKS Marado fell into the sea shortly after takeoff, failing to execute a planned strike. At a September ministry event, six out of 17 demonstrations encountered issues. Despite South Korea's success in arms exports, it has yet to export military drones, indicating that its own systems may lack battlefield readiness.
The country plans to acquire over 20,000 low-cost combat drones and advance its K-LUCAS long-range exploding-drone program. However, South Korea's military systems still rely heavily on Chinese components, hindering domestic production. While speed is crucial, it must not come at the expense of rigorous testing. A drone that fails to stay airborne on its first deployment is a wasted investment.
Even successful interceptions can leave the defender worse off if they require multimillion-dollar missiles to destroy cheap drones. Jamming has limited effectiveness against autonomous aircraft with minimal communication needs. Lasers offer a cost-effective alternative, but their effectiveness is constrained by weather conditions and the need for continuous targeting. Microwave weapons, while promising, are still under development.
South Korea must implement a multi-layered defense strategy, combining jamming, interceptor drones, lasers, and other energy-based weapons. This approach should be supported by robust targeting systems and joint training exercises. The success of this new agency will be measured by its ability to translate battlefield needs into reliable equipment and cohesive doctrine, a critical factor in a world where cheap attacks can lead to costly responses.
Written by urgent.news from Yonhap News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
