The revolutionary system from South Korea will be able to intercept drones at a distance of up to 30 km
A South Korean defense company has unveiled a new system for intercepting drones at a distance of up to 30 km using an unmanned aerial tube launch system.
The use of small unmanned aerial vehicles for interception is not new. RTX’s low-cost Coyote drone is the most visible weapon of this type, originally designed as a modular UAV for reconnaissance and strike. Later, it was transformed into an interceptor by installing a small rocket engine, making it one of the leaders in the combat drone market.
South Korea’s new anti-drone system will be similar, based on a specialized trailer equipped with tubular launch modules for interceptor drones. When an enemy UAV is detected, an interceptor drone is launched from the launch container to intercept the enemy target.
The interceptor drone is equipped with a detection radar and a data line connected to a ground control station. Before approaching an enemy UAV, the detection radar informs the interceptor drone of the location of the enemy UAV via a data link. When it gets close enough, the electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) guidance system mounted on the drone interceptor head tracks the drone and intercepts it with a self-detonation.
According to the Defense Development Agency (ADD), the development of this project began in 2023, and the Basic Design Review (BDR) is due to be completed soon, followed by the Detailed Design Review (DDR). After the interceptor drone completes its test flights, interception tests with a real UAV will begin. which are scheduled for 2024.
