South Korean and Polish officers pose throughout a signing ceremony for South Korea’s buy of Warmate drones throughout the Korea Military Worldwide Protection Exhibition (KADEX), at Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province, Wednesday. From left are Polish Vice Protection Minister Pawel Bejda, WB Electronics CEO Piotr Wojciechowski, Jeong Jae-jun, head of the Superior Capabilities Program Company at Protection Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), and DAPA Chief Seok Jong-gun. Courtesy of DAPA
Unmanned aerial car contract cements protection ties between Seoul, Warsaw
By Lee Hyo-jin
South Korea signed a cope with Poland to buy suicide drones, Wednesday, marking a major step in bolstering its unmanned aerial car (UAV) capabilities amid escalating drone threats from North Korea.
The deal, marking the primary occasion of Seoul buying weapons from Warsaw, was a part of an offset settlement — a reciprocal commerce association that advantages Poland, a major purchaser of South Korean protection programs.
Based on the Protection Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), South Korea agreed to buy Warmate drones developed by Polish protection firm WB Electronics, based mostly on their confirmed effectiveness within the Ukraine warfare.
Whereas officers didn’t disclose the precise variety of drones or the value, stories recommend the acquisition includes round 200 items. The drones are set for supply in November, with deployment to Military items and the drone operations command anticipated by December.
The settlement was signed throughout the Korea Military Worldwide Protection Exhibition (KADEX), which started its five-day session earlier on Wednesday on the navy headquarters in Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province.
The Polish authorities initially proposed the sale in June, and South Korea finalized the choice in August.
In July, South Korean protection officers traveled to Poland to evaluate the efficiency of UAVs at the moment utilized by the Polish navy, in addition to the producers’ manufacturing capabilities.
After reviewing a number of fashions, the officers deemed Warmate the best option, as its lively manufacturing line ensured rapid supply upon signing the contract.
“The product was totally verified by our staff, together with officers from the Military, the drone operations command, the Company for Protection Growth (ADD), and DAPA,” a protection ministry official stated. “We decided it holds important worth for our use, and its capabilities have been confirmed within the Ukraine warfare.”
A Warmate drone developed by Poland / Captured from WB Electronics web site
Based on its producer, Warmate drones have a most takeoff weight of 5.7 kilograms, an operational vary of 30 kilometers, and an assault velocity of 150 kilometers per hour. Measuring 1.6 meters by 1.1 meters, they’re designed for straightforward transport and may carry varied warheads, together with high-explosive sorts.
The acquisition highlights the growing significance of cost-effective drones in fashionable warfare, as demonstrated by conflicts in Ukraine and the Center East, the place UAVs have confirmed to be recreation changers in aerial fight.
Within the Ukraine warfare, a fleet of cheap drones, together with some product of cardboard, has inflicted important harm to Russia’s Su-27 fighter jets. Within the Israel-Hamas battle, each manned and unmanned UAVs have performed a crucial function in navy operations.
The South Korean navy at the moment operates hundreds of drones, primarily to observe North Korean artillery positions.
Nonetheless, the rising menace of Pyongyang’s suicide drones has change into a urgent concern for Seoul, particularly amid hypothesis that the reclusive regime lately obtained these drones with help from Russia and Iran.
On Aug. 24, North Korea launched pictures of its chief Kim Jong-un overseeing a efficiency take a look at of its purported suicide drones, with targets wanting just like South Korea’s K2 tanks.
Furthermore, the drone buy is predicted to contribute to additional strengthening ties with Poland, the protection ministry stated.
In 2022, the European nation signed a $22 billion cope with South Korea to accumulate K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 fighter jets, and Chunmoo a number of rocket launchers, marking South Korea’s largest arms cope with a single nation so far.
These offers have additionally sparked curiosity from different nations, reminiscent of Romania, which has expressed a want to increase its protection cooperation with South Korea.
“Presently, the Polish authorities is extremely targeted on increasing its weapons manufacturing capabilities, and South Korea’s buy of Polish drones is a strategically helpful transfer for each nations,” the official stated.
South Korean Protection Minister Kim Yong-hyun met with Polish Vice Protection Minister Pawel Bejda throughout the KADEX occasion, the place the 2 sides reaffirmed their dedication to protection cooperation based mostly on the achievements so far.
South Korean Protection Minister Kim Yong-hyun, left, and Polish Vice Protection Minister Pawel Bejda maintain a gathering throughout the Korea Military Worldwide Protection Exhibition on the navy’s headquarters in Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province, Wednesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Nationwide Protection
