S.Korea’s DAPA to Create Military Robots, Unmanned Search Vehicles

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) plans to develop advanced defense robots and unmanned search vehicles.

The agency said it is launching a 128.4 billion won ($90.5 million) Unmanned Search Vehicle (Block-I) system development project from November 2022 to September 2026 under the supervision of the National Institutes of Technology.

Previously, by successfully ending the search and development of unmanned search vehicles on April 21, 2021 , it has secured core technologies such as autonomous driving, day and night multi-target detection, and single target precise tracking on vehicle platforms and unpaved roads, which are the core of unmanned vehicles.

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Defense R&D progress stage: Exploration and development (determining whether to carry out technology level consideration) → system development → mass production

The system will gradually incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.

The main functions of Block-I are remote driving and automatic monitoring and tracking in low noise mode. Also, it will be able to perform surveillance and reconnaissance and shooting missions while moving with autonomous driving. Through the development of Block-II, DAPA plans to expand the function step by step, such as adding various mission equipment.

Block-II mission equipment: mine detection device, communication relay drone, etc.

DAPA Advanced Technology Project Group’s Senior Official Kim Tae-gon said, "We will develop the first unmanned search vehicle for mechanized units in Korea, which will minimize damage to the troops and greatly improve the mission capability of the mechanized units. Furthermore, the development and defense of defense robot technology is expected to contribute to the revitalization of the industry.”