Combat Systems Integrated with Advanced Technologies

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Army is actively developing the Army Tiger 4.0, a future ground combat system that integrates advanced science and technology. The Army Tiger 4.0, along with the Dronbot combat system and the Warrior Platform, represents the Army’s three major combat systems, symbolizing an innovative transformation of ground forces enhanced by Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.

Once realized, the Army Tiger 4.0 will enable reconnaissance drones to analyze video in real-time using artificial intelligence, while attack drones will suppress enemies based on this analysis. Combatants equipped with the Warrior Platform will move toward targets while riding in wheeled armored vehicles to eliminate enemies. All these situations will be shared among each combat system, command posts, and individual soldiers.

Since last year, the Army has been conducting combat experiments at the Science-based Combat Training Unit, targeting infantry battalions and brigades to verify combat functions in command and control, information, firepower, and mobility, as well as the operational performance of manned-unmanned combined combat systems.

The Army plans to complete combat experiments by 2023 and, in 2024 and 2025, conduct trial operations with two battalion-sized wheeled armored vehicle units before gradually expanding the Army Tiger 4.0 to division- and brigade-level units.

The Army Tiger 4.0 development plan will also be applied to field units. The Army 2nd Operations Command (2nd OpCom) has decided to introduce Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to proactively prepare for future threats alongside the emergence of new weapon systems. The ‘Smart Military Innovation Promotion Task Force (TF),’ launched in December last year, integrates all functional departments of the unit into 10 cross-functional teams to minimize communication steps between teams. The core of the 2nd OpCom’s plan is to build a hyper-connected network using civilian artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to prepare for future warfare.

The 2nd OpCom has formed a Dronbot (a portmanteau of drone and robot) combat system development team to introduce the Dronbot combat system.

The Science-based Education and Training System Development Team plans to apply scientific training systems such as MILES equipment, AI, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR). In the future, new recruits will be able to shoot in indoor shooting ranges integrated with AI and conduct tactical shooting as well.

To facilitate supply to remote and operational units, cargo and personnel transport drones will also be gradually introduced. Since the 2nd OpCom conducts operations over a vast area covering 70% of the entire national territory, it has determined that transport innovation is necessary.