South Korea Bolsters Defense with Lethal Polish Drones: A Game-Changing Acquisition in the UAV Arena
The world military today (September 24) has the following content: South Korea buys suicide UAVs from Poland, Spain deploys Cervus anti-drone system in Slovakia, Greece buys Belharra-class frigates from France.
* South Korea buys Warmate suicide UAV from Poland
The Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita reported that the South Korean armed forces are planning to purchase Poland’s Warmate suicide unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Warmate is a compact and highly mobile suicide UAV developed by Polish company WB Electronics. Photo: Army Recognition
Accordingly, the Korean Armed Forces will sign a contract with WB Electronics, the developer of the Warmate UAV. The deal will be finalized during the Korea International Defense Industry Exhibition (KADEX 2024), scheduled to take place in early October.
Under the contract, Poland will supply 200 Warmate suicide drones to South Korea by the end of this year. This represents a development in the partnership between the two countries in the defense sector and marks a strategic move by South Korea to enhance its defense capabilities with advanced drone technology.
Warmate is an advanced unmanned aerial system designed for precision strike. It functions as a multi-role cruise missile, or suicide drone, capable of hovering in the air before attacking valuable targets with pinpoint accuracy. Due to its compact size, Warmate can be easily deployed by ground forces or ground vehicles. The UAV is capable of performing a variety of missions, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and direct attack operations. Its real-time video transmission system allows the operator to identify and engage targets effectively while minimizing damage.
The unique feature of the Warmate is its ability to switch between reconnaissance and attack modes, providing flexibility on the battlefield. The UAV can be equipped with a variety of warheads, including high-explosive or anti-tank warheads, depending on mission requirements. With a range of approximately 30km and an endurance of up to 70 minutes, the Warmate is an ideal weapon for tactical operations. Its modular design allows for integration into systems and can be used in conjunction with other military weapons, making the Warmate UAV a valuable tool in modern asymmetric warfare.
*Spain deploys Cervus anti-drone system in Slovakia
The Spanish Army recently deployed an anti-drone system while carrying out NATO missions in Slovakia.
During the deployment in Slovakia, the NATO mission provided images showing that Spain used the Cervus version without the Guardian 2.0 turret. Photo: NATO Multinational Task Force Slovakia
The Cervus system is designed to protect airspace and secure critical facilities, both civilian and military, from drone attacks. The latest version, Cervus III, integrates an artificial intelligence-based command and control system that combines data from a variety of sensors such as radars, cameras, radio frequency antennas and jammers.
Cervus is equipped with a Guardian remote-controlled turret with an integrated 12.7mm machine gun. The entire system can be controlled by one person through a simple graphical interface, facilitating sensor operation and real-time decision making.
The system can incorporate TRC-developed radio frequency detection devices as well as Oteos high-performance photovoltaic modules. Thanks to artificial vision algorithms and sensors, the system can automatically detect UAVs and accurately locate them using artificial intelligence models. Additionally, Cervus can integrate radar to extend the system’s range and improve the accuracy of locating threats.
In addition to detecting and neutralizing drones, the Cervus system can also identify and track ground movements, such as unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). The camera equipped on the Cervus has an operating range of up to 20km, while the radar can detect targets at a distance of 5-10km. The Cervus also has a regional radio frequency antenna to locate threats and an intelligent jamming system capable of countering multiple UAVs via a unidirectional antenna, creating a protective zone around the vehicle.
* Greece buys Belharra-class frigates from France
Greece has announced plans to negotiate the purchase of a fourth Belharra-class frigate from France, according to Reuters. The decision was revealed by Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias during a ceremony at the Lorian shipyard in France.
Greece’s second Belharra-class frigate HS Nearchos. Photo: Army Recognition
Greece has previously agreed to buy three frigates worth a total of $3.34 billion from France in 2021. The new move is aimed at boosting the Greek Navy’s capabilities as the country struggles to recover from a decade-long financial crisis.
Minister Dendias stressed the strategic importance of the Belharra-class warships, revealing that three of the four ships will be equipped with Scalp Naval cruise missiles with a range of up to 1,000km.
The Belharra-class frigates are 122m long and 17.7m wide. Powered by diesel engines or combined diesel and gas turbine (CODAD) engines, they can reach a maximum speed of 50km/h and can operate at sea for 45 days.
The ship has a capacity of 120 people and a flight deck for a helicopter with specifications similar to the NH90, H160 and MH-60R Seahawk. The ship is integrated with active electronically scanned array radar, countermeasure decoys, multi-purpose missiles, torpedoes and rapid-fire guns.
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