Military Begins Developing 'Drone-Catching Drones' to Counter Enemy UAVs

The South Korean military has begun developing 'drone-catching drones' to counter medium self-detonating drones operated by Iran, Russia, and North Korea. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that it has launched the development of interceptor drones, which destroy targets by directly colliding with them, through a rapid pilot project to counter the threat posed by medium self-detonating drones that have emerged as a major concern in modern warfare.

This development aims to create a 'Korean version of Sting,' similar to the interceptor drone named 'Sting,' which has proven effective for Ukraine. The military authorities plan to complete development within two to three years.

The 'Anti-Drone Hardkill Close-In Protection System' to be developed will detect enemy drones as they approach using its own radar, and upon entering a certain range, it will capture the target with an infrared heat-seeking seeker and intercept it through direct collision.

Military authorities explained that the rapid pilot project approach allows for swift initiation of development without complex procedures, and mass production would lower unit costs, enabling its use as a highly cost-effective interception system.