This undated photo, provided by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, shows an anti-air laser weapon system to be deployed in 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jul. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea will begin production of a laser weapon designed to strike down enemy drones for deployment this year, the state arms procurement agency said Thursday, amid efforts to acquire advanced weapons systems for future warfare.
Last month, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed a deal worth about 100 billion won (US$72 million) with South Korean defense company Hanwha Aerospace to produce the weapon system. It did not offer further details of the contract.
The laser weapon is capable of defending against small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and multicopters at a short distance by firing laser beams generated by fiber optics at targets, according to DAPA.
The weapon system can operate as long as electricity is supplied and a single firing is estimated to cost only about 2,000 won, DAPA said, noting the laser is not visible to the eye and does not produce any sound.
It said the laser system could become a “game changer” in future warfare if its output is increased to respond to ballistic missile and aircraft threats.
DAPA said South Korea will become the first known country to operate a laser weapon if it is deployed as planned this year.
South Korea began the laser weapon’s development in 2019, and has invested 87.1 billion won in the project.
The military has sought to beef up its response capabilities against small unmanned aerial vehicles after five North Korean drones intruded across the inter-Korean border in December 2022.
(Yonhap)
