Reconnaissance Drone Equipped with Searchlight

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] After the suicide bombing at Kabul Airport by the Islamic State Afghanistan branch (IS-K), the United States, which declared retaliation, has increased the deployment of unmanned attack drones for precision strikes.

According to a report from the Bard College Drone Research Center in New York, as of last year, it is estimated that 95 countries worldwide possess more than 30,000 military drones. To verify domestic military drone technology, a visit was made on the 18th to Taekyung Electronics located in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province.

Wearing anti-static shoes, we entered the factory line. The production of printed circuit boards, which serve as the brain of drones, was in full swing. Since components as small as 1mm had to be precisely attached to the circuit boards, the process was carried out with 100% automation. The drones produced here are classified by weight: small drones under 2kg, medium drones between 2 and 25kg, and large drones over 25kg. On the third floor, a medium-sized drone measuring 70cm by 70cm was on display. The medium drone was equipped with a high-performance camera capable of identifying subjects up to 2km away. According to the company, it can maintain stable flight against winds of 10 meters per second.

It is estimated that there are about 300 domestic drone manufacturers. Among them, Taekyung Electronics is the only company that has developed searchlights for drones. The searchlight mounted on the drone measured only 15cm by 15cm but had various functions. It included a speaker capable of transmitting sound up to 30 meters and a high-definition camera. Kim Young-jun, head of research and development, explained, "The drones supplied to the Gangwon Fire Department are equipped with searchlights that can illuminate up to 50 meters at night," adding, "They will play a significant role in disaster rescue."

Enhanced drones are also under development. In January, a 200kg-class drone was developed in collaboration with domestic defense company LIG Nex1, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, and the Army’s 31st Division. In particular, to overcome the operational time limitations of existing drones, there are plans to commercialize technology based on eco-friendly hydrogen fuel cells with high energy density. The industry expects that the development of this drone will accelerate the era of urban air mobility.

Military dog tracking technology is also being developed. This method involves drones following military dogs equipped with GPS to conduct joint search and reconnaissance. Since enemies or hazardous materials can be detected from a distance, soldiers’ safety can be ensured. The industry explains that if this technology is combined with AI-based video analysis, it could even replace soldiers’ missions. Once the Korean-style K-Drone system is established, it will enable not only military logistics but also civilian applications such as terrain and weather information analysis using big data.

Company CEO Ahn Hye-ri stated, "Currently, Chinese drones dominate not only the military but also the civilian market," and added, "If spy chips are embedded in core components, it could be fatal to national security, so the distribution and development of domestically produced drones made with Korean technology is urgently needed."