As North Korea unveils new drone technology, including low-cost, low-detection “cardboard drones,” South Korea is accelerating efforts to enhance its special operations forces with advanced loitering munition, or ‘Kamikaze’ drones.
According to Representative Yoo Yong-won of the National Assembly’s Defense Committee, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has approved the procurement of special operations unmanned aerial and ground systems, with selections expected later this year.
The new acquisitions will include special operations one-way UAVs [uncrewed aerial vehicles] designed to strike enemy armored and mechanized units from long distances. These drones will be integrated into the Special Mission Brigade and other elite units, enabling them to engage enemy forces without requiring fire support from rear units. The procurement plan will allocate 29.6 billion won ($22.2 million) for these drones through 2025.
DAPA is currently considering models that have proven effective in the Russia-Ukraine war, including the U.S.-made Switchblade 600 and the Israeli Hero 120. A final selection is expected in the second half of 2025.
Representative Yoo emphasized the urgency of strengthening South Korea’s drone capabilities. “North Korea is actively analyzing global drone development trends and lessons from the Ukraine war to advance its unmanned systems. Our drone capabilities currently lag behind, and while we are initially acquiring systems from foreign sources, we must establish domestic mass production capabilities to outmatch North Korea’s drone force,” he said.