South Korea set to modernize military with drone arsenal
According to the Global Firepower 2024 rankings, South Korea has the fifth-strongest army in the world and plans to replace its current mortars with drones. In many situations, drones demonstrate greater potential and can more effectively weaken enemy forces. These plans result from lessons learned by the Ukrainians from their clashes with the Russians.
4:11 PM EDT, October 29, 2024
South Korean media report that these plans are already in the "final stage of approval," as confirmed by the head of the local army staff. All 60 mm and 81 mm mortars are to be withdrawn from service.
South Korea draws lessons from the war in Ukraine
The main argument for avoiding these armaments is their limited range. A 60 mm mortar can hit targets about 2 miles away and weighs about 44 pounds per set. An 81 mm mortar can reach targets up to 4 miles away but is noticeably heavier, at about 88 pounds per set.
Operating such weapons in close proximity to the enemy is, therefore, very challenging. Remotely controlled drones present an effective alternative. Seoul observed this during the clashes between Ukrainians and Russians. Additionally, South Korea is aware that North Korea could quickly equip its armed forces with inexpensive, mass-produced drones.
This concerns FPV (first-person view) drones, which are unmanned aircraft equipped with a built-in camera that provides a real-time live feed. These drones act as kamikaze weapons by dropping ammunition on enemy equipment or conducting direct strikes on targets.
Weapons that proved their effectiveness
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that even small commercial drones can be suitably modified for military use. Refined military drones will be more expensive but can offer significantly better performance. The South Korean army is likely to opt for such advanced designs.
It is worth noting that these are not the first reports suggesting that even countries not directly involved in aiding Ukraine are closely monitoring the progress of its conflict with Russia. There is a possibility that South Korea may reconsider the agreement to purchase American AH-64E Apache helicopters, as their experts have highlighted the aerial dominance of drones on the front lines and the vulnerability of Russian helicopters to MANPADS attacks.
In the context of changes related to mortars, it is emphasized that Seoul does not plan to discontinue the use of larger weapons such as 120 mm and 107 mm artillery.
