Operational concept of the integrated radar-linked counter-drone solution, including radar, IR surveillance and jamming.
K-Nets, an ICT research and development specialist led by CEO Seong-hun Oh, was selected as a supplier for the Defense Acquisition Program Administration’s rapid demonstration procurement project for an integrated radar-linked counter-drone solution.
A drone is generally defined as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can be remotely controlled from the ground or elsewhere using radio communication. Consumer drones are widely available, easy to operate remotely and able to carry devices such as cameras or other payloads.
Such aircraft can also create security incidents. The report noted a number of disruptions, including incidents at Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom in 2018, Heathrow Airport in 2019, and Incheon Airport in Korea in 2020, as well as the September 2019 attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities. Incidents involving unauthorized drones were becoming increasingly frequent.
Around the world, counter-drone weapon-system technologies were being researched and developed, while countries were also revising laws and procedures to help move new technology toward commercial and operational deployment.
The integrated systems that are central to counter-drone defense were being developed under the leadership of countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Israel and Russia, and were already deployed at certain important facilities.
The report said the rapid demonstration procurement program offered an opportunity to replace imported systems with domestically developed systems and to develop indigenous defense capabilities. The integrated radar-linked counter-drone solution draws on AI and intelligent systems, autonomous and unmanned robotics, and software-intensive technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Domestic technology was particularly important for building a drone-detection, identification and attack-response system. In the past, maintaining an imported counter-drone system could be difficult because of limited technical support and suboptimal configuration for Korean terrain and operating conditions.
A domestically developed solution was expected to improve system optimization, purchase and installation efficiency, maintenance, and the overall cost of operating counter-drone systems.
A K-Nets representative said drones were evolving beyond traditional recreational functions into multipurpose unmanned mobile platforms. The company planned to pursue advanced research and development of active countermeasure systems against hostile unmanned aircraft and strengthen Korea’s competitiveness in this emerging industry.
To develop its counter-drone system, K-Nets collaborated with a radar research team at DGIST led by Dr. Dae-gun Oh, an optical research team led by Dr. Hyun-ki Lee, and LIG Nex1, a Korean defense company with advanced weapons-system technology, to develop an integrated radar-linked counter-drone solution that could replace competing foreign products.
