Experts call for measures to address nation's drone defense gap

The domestically produced Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile system reportedly intercepted more than 90 percent of incoming missiles during the recent conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, as a battery deployed in the United Arab Emirates blocked a heavy barrage of missiles with almost no gaps. While this milestone inspires admiration for South Korea's defense exports and offers domestic reassurance regarding the airspace where Cheongung-II is already deployed, this high-tech shield conceals a critical vulnerability. The world marvels at the precision of conventional air defense networks, but a different reality is unfolding on modern battlefields. Drones have emerged as the undeniable game changer in both the Middle East and the war in Ukraine. As the U.S. expended interceptor missiles at a staggering cost, Iran countered effectively with its Shahed drones, also known as loitering munitions, which cost merely tens of millions of won (roughly $6,700 to $67,000) each. Kim Jong-un's push for drones In Ukraine, traditional trenches and engagement lines have beenWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times