South Korean Army Tests AI-Linked Drones and Robots in Future Warfare Drill
The Army demonstrated how reconnaissance drones, AI-assisted targeting, unmanned ground vehicles and robots could work with soldiers in an integrated battlefield network, while acknowledging major operator and systems-integration challenges.
South Korea’s Army has demonstrated an integrated combat system that links soldiers with reconnaissance and attack drones, unmanned ground vehicles, robots and artificial intelligence-assisted battlefield tools, offering a detailed look at its plans for technology-driven warfare.
The Army TIGER+ exercise took place Wednesday at the Yangpyeong General Training Ground in Gyeonggi Province. During the drill, reconnaissance drones searched for simulated enemy positions and transmitted live video to a command post. An AI-based decision-support system then recommended weapons for an attack, while a battalion commander retained authority over the final decision. A 120-millimeter self-propelled mortar opened fire before explosive-laden drones struck simulated targets.
The demonstration involved 19 reconnaissance drones of nine types. The aircraft included short-range and battalion-level reconnaissance platforms, multispectral imaging drones and systems designed to detect radio frequencies. One drone equipped with a rifle showed how a single platform could locate and engage a target, while several aircraft were operated through a shared ground station.
Unmanned systems were also sent ahead of troops to examine a simulated minefield and identify defensive positions. Attack drones struck trenches, smoke-screening equipment obscured the advance, and teams of soldiers and machines secured ground along the route. A K21 armored vehicle carried a manned-unmanned combat squad and launched a first-person-view drone from an onboard station.
The Army also tested layered defenses against hostile drones. A command post distinguished friendly aircraft from incoming threats, a vehicle-mounted smart jammer disrupted hostile systems, and a K21 fired multipurpose rounds. The Cheongwang laser air defense weapon then engaged a drone, causing it to catch fire and fall.
After engineers cleared a route, unmanned vehicles moved through first, followed by K2 tanks and K21 armored vehicles. Transport drones later delivered ammunition and first-aid kits, while ground vehicles carried additional supplies into areas that could be exposed to shelling or chemical contamination.
Army officials said the long-term aim is to shift from unmanned equipment supporting soldiers to a structure centered on unmanned systems under human command and control. Significant obstacles remain. Most drones and robots still require a dedicated operator, making a one-to-many control model a priority. Officials also said an integrated, multilayered digital network will be essential because many individual technologies already exist but have not yet been combined into a single operational system.
The Army began testing a manned-unmanned combat squad in July. It plans to expand trials to a company-sized unit in 2027 and a battalion-sized unit in 2028, using the results to shape future organization and operations.