[Click eStocks] "Top 3 Beneficiary Stocks of Drone Command Establishment"

ResearchAlum predicted on the 5th that the drone industry will grow following the government's establishment of the Drone Command. It expected companies such as i3System, Purstek, and Hunid to benefit as investments increase to develop military drones.

Choi Seonghwan, a researcher at ResearchAlum, said, "The President ordered the establishment of the ‘Drone Command’ earlier this year," adding, "This is a measure in response to the increased threats of North Korea's unmanned aerial vehicle infiltration and various provocations, as well as the expanded use of drone weapon systems in modern and future warfare."

He continued, "In April, the Ministry of National Defense announced the legislative notice for the ‘Drone Operations Command Decree’," adding, "The Drone Operations Command is expected to be established within the second half of this year."

He analyzed, "The Drone Command is known to include ‘strike’ missions in addition to reconnaissance," and "Weapon systems being developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), such as ‘drone killer drones’ that capture enemy drones and ‘stealth unmanned aerial vehicles’ that evade enemy radar, are expected to be deployed with a production target within this year."

Researcher Choi emphasized, "i3System is a specialist in infrared imaging sensors," and "As the only domestic supplier of military-grade infrared imaging sensors, it is expected to benefit from the establishment of the ‘Drone Command’." He added, "The sales composition by business division recorded 88% from infrared imaging sensors, 6% from X-ray imaging sensors, and 6% from others," noting that "They supply to defense companies such as LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Systems."

He also analyzed, "Purstek has participated in development projects including the T-50 (advanced trainer aircraft), Surion (utility helicopter), short-range surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air guided weapons, K-9 self-propelled howitzers, and K-10 ammunition carriers," and "It has a subsidiary, Ucon Systems, specializing in drone development and production." Furthermore, he added, "Ucon Systems was the first in Korea to mass-produce unmanned aerial vehicles and deliver them to the military," and "They also produce the Korean-type launcher ground control system and drones for spatial information acquisition."

Hunid is a wireless communication developer. Researcher Choi emphasized, "The defense business involves producing tactical communication equipment and command and control equipment supplied to the military," and "It has secured long-term growth potential by winning the contract for the development of the military's next-generation Tactical Information Communication Network (TICN)." He added, "Once the drone surveillance system is established, it will be included in the TICN project," and predicted that Hunid will benefit.