Seoul Introduces New Unmanned Spy Plane

Korean Information Service, Korea introduced Thursday (Mar. 20) a new unmanned spy plane at a convention also attended by leading weapons manufacturers, including Israel’s Rafael and Germany’s Micro Drones. 
 
The convention, hosted by the country’s defense procurement agency, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), is the first of six to be held this year to help introduce the latest defense items and technology to the country’s military. 
 
“The conventions are to simply introduce new weapons systems and technology to our armed services, which will then decide whether they need any particular systems or technology,” Jung Jae-joon, director for acquisition policy at the DAPA, said. 
 
The new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by a venture firm, Near Easy Solution, run by the country’s Chungnam National University, is mainly a reconnaissance plane, but it can also deliver and drop off any items that weigh less than 800 grams, the DAPA said in a press release. 
 
Competing against the one-man controlled UAV is Rafael’s Skylite B UAV, equipped with stealth capabilities. Micro Drones was introducing a miniature unmanned surveillance helicopter, which can be stored and carried in a hand-held box. 
 
Britain’s BAE Systems joined the convention with a new helmet for fighter pilots with improved vision, while German manufacturer Atlas caught the attention of the Navy with a new mine sweeping device, called Sea Fox. 
 
“The DAPA believes this convention will provide an opportunity for the participating businesses to compare and evaluate their technology and weapons systems with those of others, thus encouraging more efforts and investment while allowing the military to increase its defense capabilities,” said the press release.