Seoul plans to develop weaponised drones

South Korea plans to create a combat unit of weaponised drones next year that would be capable of swarming the nuclear-armed North in the event of a conflict.

Army officials said the drones would primarily focus on reconnaissance operations against strategic military sites, amid growing tensions over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programme. But the unit could be mobilised to launch swarm attacks if necessary, with an unnamed army official claiming drone combat would be a “gamechanger in warfare” on the peninsula.

“The army plans to set up a special organisation to lead the development of dronebots, establish a standard platform and expand the dronebot programme,” the official said.

The move to develop weaponised drones indicates the Government is heeding calls from Western allies to improve its advanced surveillance systems.

The new combat unit will reportedly be modelled on Israeli technology, but several governments, including the US, Russia and China, are developing “drone swarm” capabilities as a formidable new battlefield tactic.

Seoul said yesterday it would increase its annual military budget by 7 per cent next year, in the biggest jump since 2009, reflecting the increasingly precarious security situation. — Telegraph Group Ltd