On October 13, lawmakers criticized the military's slow progress in acquiring drone capabilities and developing the industry during a national audit of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. They emphasized the need to move away from a focus on expensive weapon systems and instead secure a sufficient number of low-cost, expendable drones, while also enhancing domestic production of key components and technical cooperation based on real-world experience.
Kim Min-seok, a member of the Democratic Party, argued that the Ministry of National Defense should reassess its plan to acquire 20,000 low-cost, expendable drones, questioning whether this quantity would be adequate for training and operational needs. He stressed the importance of reevaluating the appropriate scale of acquisition in light of the battlefield environment where drones are heavily utilized.
Kim also pointed out that research related to drones at the Defense Science Research Institute is overly focused on high-cost systems. He highlighted the widespread use of low-cost drones in actual combat and called for a review of whether concentrating on developing high-performance, expensive equipment is appropriate.
He stated, "We need to change our perspective on drones," noting that the existing procurement methods, which take a long time for development and purchasing decisions, are inadequate for responding to rapidly evolving drone tactics.
The necessity for domestic production of small drone components was also raised. Kim cited Ukraine's practice of guaranteeing long-term contracts to companies using domestic parts, urging the need to secure a supply base for components of reconnaissance drones as well as small drones.
He called for government-level solutions to address command authority issues within the Drone Operations Command, which could impact decision-making related to drone capabilities.
Seong Il-jong, a member of the People Power Party, questioned the military's readiness in light of North Korea's acquisition of drone production technology and operational tactics through cooperation with Russia and participation in the Ukraine conflict.
Seong also referenced recent incidents of drone crashes within the military, emphasizing the urgent need to ensure performance and reliability. He criticized the Defense Acquisition Program Administration for its lack of preparedness, noting that six out of 17 military drones had crashed during a recent technology competition.
He further inquired whether low-cost interception measures are in place to counter North Korea's suicide drones and stressed the importance of international cooperation utilizing real-world information. Seong pointed to Japan's efforts to produce low-cost interception drones in collaboration with Ukrainian companies and share battlefield information, advocating for similar partnerships with Ukraine and Israel to incorporate proven technologies and tactics.
The small scale of the domestic drone industry and reliance on Chinese components were also highlighted. Seong noted that while there are over 600 domestic drone companies, the average revenue per company is only about 170 million won, and the domestic production rate of batteries stands at just 20.6%. He called for a focused effort to develop key components such as batteries and control systems.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration acknowledged the high dependence on Chinese components for commercial drones but emphasized the need to distinguish between commercial and military drones. They also stated that ongoing investigations into the situation are being conducted, explaining that the lengthy process from identifying military needs to acquisition has contributed to delays in securing drone capabilities.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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