S. Korea inks deal to buy Polish ‘suicide drones’

South Korea’s defense ministry on Wednesday signed a deal to purchase so-called suicide drones from Poland, officials said, in efforts to better equip the military with the low-cost but effective weapons that North Korea is seeking to rapidly develop.

Under the deal signed with Polish defense firm WB Electronics SA on the sidelines of the Korea Army International Defense Exhibition held at the military headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul, the ministry plans to begin shipments of the Warmate drones in November and deploy them by the end of this year.

The ministry did not disclose the quantity or price of the drones due to contractual obligations.

The deal comes as suicide drones, also known as loitering munitions, have emerged as important weapons in modern warfare as they can attack tanks and other targets at relatively low cost.

North Korea has also been doubling down on producing more suicide drones. In August, leader Kim Jong-un oversaw tests of various drones and called for t
he development and production of more suicide drones to better prepare for war.

The North’s state media released photos of two white suicide attack drones hitting and destroying a mock target that looked like a South Korean K-2 tank. It marked the first time the North unveiled photos of such drones.

This photo, provided by South Korea’s defense ministry, shows loitering munitions developed by Poland. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

This photo, provided by South Korea’s defense ministry, shows loitering munitions developed by Poland. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Against such a backdrop, a ministry official said procurement speed was one of the main reasons behind its decision to purchase such drones from Poland.

“We conducted an extensive search on which drones could be shipped quickly and the Polish drones were the sole answer,” the official said, noting how Poland has continuously supplied such drones to Ukraine in its war with Russia.

The deal also came as South Korea has been strengthening arms indust
ry partnership with Poland.

In 2022, Poland signed major deals with South Korean defense companies to buy various weapons systems, including K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers.

The ministry expected the latest deal, signed upon the request of Poland’s defense chief, will further boost their ties at a time when the two sides have yet to sign a follow-up deal for the 2022 agreement.

“Given that the Polish government is highly interested in expanding its production capabilities for weapons systems, our purchase of Polish weapons systems will be a mutually reciprocal means of cooperation,” a ministry official said.

Source: Yonhap News Agency