South Korea Wants To Buy Cardboard Drones: Planned As Reconnaissance, Considered To Attack

Illustration of drones. (Wikimedia Commons/Fg Off Owen Cheverton)

JAKARTA - South Korea's Ministry of National Defense (South Korea) earlier this month said the country's military plans to acquire drones from cardboard as part of its efforts to increase the capabilities of its drones in responding to North Korea's threats.

The military plans to complete a contract to obtain about 100 drones from cardboard by the end of this year, with plans for deployment in the first half of 2025.

"Our ministry and related organizations are taking various steps to strengthen our drone capacity. It is an undeniable fact that drones have made game changers in modern warfare, so our military is intensifying efforts in this area," ministry spokesman Jeon Ha-kyou said at a briefing. , reported by The Korea Times December 24.

Jeon refused to specifically elaborate on the drone being discussed.

Initially, the drone from the cardboard will reportedly be deployed for reconnaissance purposes, with plans to consider its use as a suicide drone in the future.

Made mainly from cheap and easily decomposed materials such as cardboard, these drones are considered more cost-effective than conventional unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The effectiveness of cardboard drones has been proven in the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to media reports, such a fleet of drones, lined with rubber bracelets and deposits, has caused significant damage to Russia's many targets.

South Korea itself has continued to increase its drone capacity. In October, the government agreed to buy the Warmate drone developed by Polish defense firm WB Electronics based on its proven effectiveness in the Ukraine war.

It is known that Seoul's latest move to get cardboard drones emerged amid North Korea's reports has also gained similar technology.

During the Defense Development Exhibition held in Pyongyang in November, the new drone design exhibited by the North Korean military featured characteristics similar to cardboard drones. Military analysts assess that one of the drones exhibited at the event, with wings and fused fused fused fused with a rubber bracelet, looks similar to a cardboard suicide drone.