Seoul: The state arms procurement agency announced its successful development of a critical component for its laser-based anti-drone air defense weapon system, utilizing local technology with improved performance. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) revealed that it had successfully developed the laser oscillator for Block-I, capable of executing precision strikes against small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), in late May.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the project was executed by the Agency for Defense Development under DAPA, in collaboration with Hanwha Systems Co. Block-I, also known as Cheongwang, was operationally deployed in late 2024 and employs a high-powered fiber laser to disable hostile drones and UAVs.
With this latest achievement, the domestic parts ratio of Block-I has risen to 90 percent from the previous 76 percent, as reported by DAPA. The newly developed laser oscillator will be utilized in the production of future units. The oscillator boasts a more than 50 percent improvement in key areas, such as output power.
DAPA emphasized that this accomplishment is anticipated to enhance the military's independent response capabilities against the increasing threats posed by drones and UAVs. The agency stated its plans for the future development project of Block-II, focusing on boosting output and precision while reducing the system's size and weight.