From Battalion to High Altitude: ROK Fields 1,000+ Military Drones

The ROK Army operates roughly 500 reconnaissance UAVs, distributed across multiple echelons. Figures provided by Army Headquarters to the National Assembly’s Defense Committee show that the Ground Operations Command fields three systems, corps-level units around 20, division-level units about 50, and battalion-level formations approximately 440.At the corps level, the Army deploys the Songgolmae (RQ-101) reconnaissance UAV, an indigenous sy...

KF-21 Delay Raises Risk of Air Power Gap in South Korea

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) had planned to induct 40 KF-21 fighters by 2028 to replace aging F-4 and F-5 aircraft slated for retirement. The initial acquisition, valued at 8.4 trillion won, was designed to prevent a sharp decline in fighter strength as more than 100 legacy jets are phased out by the end of the decade.According to officials familiar with the matter, the Ministry of Economy and Finance has informed defense authorities t...

KF-21 Boramae Ready for Frontline Service After Final Tests

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on Jan. 13 that the KF-21 has concluded all planned development flight tests, following more than 1,600 accident-free sorties conducted over a 42-month period. The first mass-produced aircraft are scheduled for delivery to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) in the second half of this year.The milestone marks the transition of the KF-21 from a development program into a near-oper...

North Korea Goes Hypersonic—KAMD Needs Northrop Grumman’s IBCS

On January 5, North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that hypersonic missiles launched northeastward from Pyongyang’s Yeokpo District struck targets set along a 1,000-kilometer line in the East Sea (Sea of Japan), following four days of launch drills. Conducted under the supervision of Kim Jong Un, the exercises were assessed as a comprehensive evaluation of hypersonic weapon readiness, mission execution ca...

Seoul Tests Non-Lethal ‘Blackout Bomb’ Ahead of 2028 Deployment

The weapon—officially referred to as a carbon-fiber bomb or electrical power disruption munition—is regarded alongside electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons as a key element in strengthening South Korea’s Three-Axis Defense System, aimed at countering North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threats.Often called a Blackout Bomb, the munition disables electricity by releasing conductive carbon-fiber wires over transmission...

KF-21 Boramae Shifts From Development to Production

This latest update was disclosed through a video released on December 31, 2025, on KAI’s official YouTube channel, which revisited the KF-21 production floor roughly nine months after it was first opened to the public. The footage provides rare, close-up views of airframe assembly now underway as the program accelerates toward operational service. According to industry and government disclosures, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) began final...

Korea’s Marine Attack Helicopter Hits 100% With APKWS and Cheongeom

According to a video released on January 2 via YouTube by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the MAH achieved 100% hit rates in multiple precision-guided munition trials, exceeding initial performance expectations under operationally realistic conditions.Notably, the footage also revealed live-fire testing of the laser-guided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) mounted on the MAH. This marks the first time a laser-gu...

North Korea’s First ‘Tactical Nuclear Submarine’ Plagued by Stability Flaws, Undergoing Repairs

The submarine, unveiled by Pyongyang in 2023 as a key pillar of its sea-based nuclear deterrent, is believed to be a heavily modified legacy diesel-electric platform. North Korea claimed the vessel had been adapted to carry up to ten submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), a configuration that analysts have long questioned.According to officials familiar with the assessment cited by TV Chosun, the submarine displayed persistent buoyancy is...

Hanwha Systems Secures Fifth Naval Combat System Export to Philippine Navy

The company announced on December 31 that it has signed a contract worth approximately KRW 40 billion (around USD 30 million) to supply Combat Management Systems (CMS) and Tactical Data Links (TDL) for two 3,200-ton next-generation frigates to be operated by the Philippine Navy.The combat management system serves as the core command-and-control architecture of a modern warship, integrating data from multiple onboard sensors to detect, track, and ...

New Year’s Message 2026

As we enter 2026, K-DEFENSE NEWS extends its sincere appreciation to our readers, partners, and contributors across the global defense and security community.The past year has underscored structural shifts in the defense landscape, including force modernization, industrial capacity expansion, alliance-based procurement, and the growing influence of advanced technologies.These developments reaffirm the importance of defense journalism that is accu...