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North Korea’s Suicide Drones: A New Threat Rises

Daniel Kim Views  

North Korea’s self-destructing drone drops vertically toward a model of the K-2 tank. Source: Korean Central News Agency, Yonhap News

“We want to take the threat posed by North Korea’s self-destructing drones seriously,” stated the U.S. Department of Defense on August 27, addressing the recent unveiling of these drones. Defense Department spokesperson Pat Ryder noted in a briefing, “We have seen the media reports, and this is an issue we are monitoring closely. Our ally, South Korea, is vigilant and aware of our collective defense efforts. We will continue collaborating with our regional partners, including South Korea and Japan, to ensure our defense remains robust.”

On August 24, North Korea’s state-run media, Korean Central News Agency, reported that leader Kim Jong Un supervised performance tests of the unmanned attack drones developed by the National Defense Science Institute, capturing global attention with released footage. This footage showcased two types of unmanned attack drones reminiscent of Israel’s HAROP radar-destroying kamikaze drones and the HERO series.

A particularly striking moment in the video showed a drone similar to the HAROP targeting a model of the multifunction radar used by South Korea’s Cheongung surface-to-air missile system. Another drone, resembling either the Israeli HERO series or the Russian Lancet, destroyed a target designed to look like the K-2 tank.

Kim expressed satisfaction with the tests, asserting, “We need to conduct more rigorous combat application tests and equip our People’s Army units as soon as possible,” according to the Korean Central News Agency.

Military analysts have noted that North Korea’s deliberate display of these self-destructing drones appears aimed at projecting power externally; however, questions linger regarding their actual operational capabilities.

Technical Features of New Drones

Kim Jong Un visited the National Defense Science Institute’s drone research facility on August 24, overseeing recent unmanned attack tests, as shown in photos released by North Korea. Source: Korean Central News Agency, Yonhap News

The emergence of North Korea’s self-destructing drones has captured global attention due to their relatively low technical complexity compared to reconnaissance drones and their cost-effective potential for precise strikes versus traditional cruise missiles. The two types of self-destructing drones unveiled appear to mimic existing Western technologies. If these drones are deployed in actual combat, they could represent a significant threat to military ground operations, prompting the need for urgent countermeasures.

In July 2023, during its Victory Day parade, North Korea introduced unmanned reconnaissance and attack drones, such as the Sae Byeol-4 and Sae Byeol-9. However, this marks the first public display of self-destructing unmanned attack drones. Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, noted that the newly revealed drones resemble Israel’s Harop and X-wing drones akin to Russia’s Lancet.

Design and Attack Strategy
Comparisons to Other Drone Technologies

The drones are designed for low-altitude attacks, executing rapid descents that approach vertical precision. One striking feature of the newly unveiled drones is the round camera mounted at the front, likely an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera. When paired with network technology, this could enable remote control, greatly enhancing accuracy in target strikes.

The stingray-shaped drone resembles the Israeli HAROP, which features radar tracking modes and potential remote control capabilities through optical systems. The HAROP is specifically engineered to neutralize enemy air defenses by targeting radar installations. It can linger over operational areas for extended periods, identifying and destroying radar or communication facilities upon detecting enemy radar signals, as evidenced by its use against Syrian air defense bases.

In contrast, the X-wing drones resemble the Russian Lancet self-destructing unmanned attack drones, which have posed significant challenges for Ukrainian forces. The Lancet drones have been utilized to strike Ukrainian artillery, self-propelled guns, mortars, multiple rocket launch systems, communication relay stations, air defense systems, tanks, and armored vehicles. Their attack strategy typically involves a near-vertical dive or low-altitude glide just above the target during the final phase of the attack, making detection and response exceedingly difficult for adversaries.

Poland’s Advancements in Drone Technology

Poland has developed the ‘Warmate’ self-destructing drone. Photo credit: WB Group

In July, military officials dispatched a delegation of drone operations command personnel to Poland in response to the Polish government’s request to purchase domestic drones. This move was part of a countertrade agreement involving bulk orders of K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled artillery, and FA-50 multirole fighters.

Recently, the Ministry of Defense submitted a contract request for Polish drones to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, which is also preparing to announce a bidding process. The Ministry intends to cover the contract amount of approximately 14.6 billion won (about $11 million).

A Defense Ministry official noted that the Polish drones have been tested in actual combat and can be rapidly integrated into the military due to ample production capacity. Plans are in place to procure nearly 200 drones, with some expected to arrive by the end of the year and the remainder next year.

From September 3, the MSPO 2024 defense exhibition will be held in Kielce, Poland, where a large long-range self-destructing drone with a flight range of up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) will be unveiled. The ‘Warmate’ stands out as a critical self-destructing attack drone from Poland, having reportedly demonstrated its effectiveness by successfully targeting vital Russian military assets in Ukraine at a cost of several tens of thousands of won per unit.

The spotlight at the exhibition was on the Warmate 50, produced by WB Electronics. Making its debut at MSPO, the Warmate 50 is considerably larger than its predecessors and can carry a payload of 50 kilograms (110 lbs). It is designed to strike targets from a maximum distance of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles). Details about its engine and other power systems remain undisclosed, described only as “internal combustion engines.”

According to Polish military media outlet Defense24, “the Warmate 50 carries a single explosive payload, in contrast to previous models. While this may reduce some surveillance capabilities, it is a strategy to enhance combat effectiveness.”

WB Electronics and Its Drone Models
Comparison of Drone Capabilities

In a rehearsal for the 75th anniversary of the Armed Forces Day conducted at Seongnam Seoul Airport on September 22 last year, self-destructing drones were showcased. Source: Yonhap News

WB Electronics manufactures five drone models, including the small reconnaissance drones FlyEye and FT-5, self-destructing variants like the Warmate-1 and Warmate-5, and the domestic BSP-U.

The Warmate-1 features a wingspan of 1.6 meters (5.2 feet) and a length of 1.1 meters (3.6 feet), achieving a maximum speed of 150 kilometers per hour (93 mph). With a maximum takeoff weight of 5.7 kilograms (12.6 lbs), it can carry diverse warheads, including high-explosive, anti-tank, and thermobaric munitions. Notably, its anti-tank warhead has been reported to penetrate armor plates several centimeters thick. The Warmate-1 boasts an operational radius of 30 kilometers (18.6 miles), enabling it to strike targets precisely using video-based terminal guidance.

In contrast, the Warmate-5, which shares features with the BSP-U, is a medium-sized self-destructing drone capable of real-time mission control. While the BSP-U is designed for domestic applications, the export variant is recognized as the Warmate-5. This model incorporates unmanned aerial communication capabilities, enhancing its operational functions. The Warmate-5 measures 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) in wingspan and can reach speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph), with the capability to engage targets at distances of up to 100 kilometers (62 miles).

South Korea’s Military Drone Operations

On the other hand, the South Korean military reportedly operates around 8,000 unmanned aerial vehicles, although only a handful are self-destructing drones. Noteworthy examples include the Israeli Rotem-L, utilized by the Army’s special operations brigade, and the Air Force’s Harpy. Despite the display of domestically produced self-destructing drones during last September’s Armed Forces Day parade, comprehensive details about these models remain undisclosed.

According to Kim Min Seok, a Korea Defense Security Forum researcher, “Since 2016, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has been working on military self-destructing drones, but limited information has been released, making it difficult to assess their actual capabilities. The only known self-destructing drones are those deployed under the designation S-2 within the drone operations command and the tube-launched attack drones identified as S-4.”

Daniel Kim
content@viewusglobal.com

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