Seoul: South Korea and the United States have reached a preliminary agreement to expand cooperation on drone and counter-drone systems, aiming to enhance interoperability in joint operations. The agreement, announced by the South Korean defense ministry, was signed between Jeon Joon-boem, director general of the defense artificial intelligence planning bureau, and Patrick Mason, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Army for defense exports and cooperation, in Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the agreement will allow South Korean drone and anti-drone products to be listed on an online platform operated by the U.S. Department of War, which is expected to launch by the end of the year. This initiative is anticipated to facilitate mutual trade and operations of related Korean products, as well as reduce logistics costs.
The agreement also includes plans to adopt shared standards for small-sized drone batteries in the short term to improve efficacy and compatibility between the two allies. Both countries have agreed to establish a working-level group to ensure close coordination moving forward.