South Korea's Arms Procurement Agency Launches Four-legged Robot For Anti-terrorism Operations

Illustration of robots for South Korean counterterrorism operations. (Source: Hyundai Rotem)

JAKARTA - South Korea's arms procurement agency announced in August that it had tested a large-legged robot designed for anti-terrorism operations as part of an attempt to introduce advanced technology to the military.

The Defense Acquisition Program Agency (DAPA) launched the project in August 2022, to develop a robot that can examine threats inside buildings in a terror situation before troops deploy.

The Army received the robot last August to conduct a six-month test to determine whether the robot is suitable for operation. Army Special War Command and the frontline Army division will assess its performance and capabilities.

The four-legged robot can move at a speed of more than 4 kilometers per hour and can overcome various vertical hurdles, such as a 20-centimeter-high ladder, according to DAPA, reported by The Korea Times Oct. 10.

The robot is also equipped with a camera to carry out day and night reconnaissance missions. It can also be equipped with combat equipment, such as a gun operated remotely.

It is known that this development project took place as part of the DAPA fast program designed to immediately deploy equipment to the military. Hyundai Rotem and Rainbow Robotics are several companies involved in the development of the robot.