Detector, directed energy.
In March 2019 it was reported researchers were conducting integration tests on a prototype C-UAS radar which consists of a two-panelled radar system, each panel measuring 52 cm x 60 cm (20.5 in x 23.6 in) and designed to detect an apple-sized object at 3 kilometres (1.6 N mi) under a coverage radius of 200 degrees. The radar is designed to be interoperable with the company’s Quantum Eye electro-optic system. “Lee Yong-Wook, head of the Research and Development Department at Hanwha Systems, is quoted as saying that the product being developed is designed to be lightweight, transportable by two people, and less power-consumptive than a military system. Chosun Biz states that KRW12 billion ($10.7 million) will be invested in the program by 2021, under the supervision of the Korean government’s Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). The amount is not large, but if Hanwha Systems can be one of the first in the Pacific region to market a C-UAV system as a commercial product, the company may be able to recoup its own most likely significant development costs.”
Korea’s Agency for Defense Development awarded a 24.3 billion won (USD21.8 million) contract to Hanwha Group in June 2021 to develop laser beam counter drone weapons. In addition to the hardware development by Hanwha Group, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) is also developing related software. KAERI is forming a consortium with 22 partners to co-develop the integrated anti-drone system.
The 42 billion-won project will see the development of a total anti-drone system that can detect, identify, analyse, neutralize and investigate illegal drones by 2025.
The program includes five public institutions including KAERI and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and 18 private anti-drone companies including LIG Nex1.
