'Pilot Operation Completed' Hyundai Rotem Finalizes Delivery of Korea's First Multipurpose Unmanned Vehicle to Military

A multipurpose unmanned vehicle supplied by Hyundai Rotem. (Photo by Hyundai Rotem)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Hyundai Rotem announced on the 10th that it has completed the pilot operation of Korea's first multipurpose unmanned vehicle and has made the final delivery to the military.

The unmanned vehicles delivered by Hyundai Rotem are two 2-ton class remote-controlled unmanned vehicles, multipurpose unmanned vehicles. Hyundai Rotem won the contract for the multipurpose unmanned vehicle rapid acquisition project in November 2020, conducted performance testing and evaluation, delivered the vehicles to the military in July last year, and has been conducting pilot operations in the field with the military for six months at locations such as the GOP and DMZ.

The multipurpose unmanned vehicles delivered this time by Hyundai Rotem are the military's first unmanned vehicles to complete pilot operations. During this pilot operation, Hyundai Rotem's multipurpose unmanned vehicles tested surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities by simulating various combat situations, performing remote driving, autonomous waypoint navigation along designated routes in various terrains and environments, and dependent driving that automatically follows vehicles or personnel moving ahead. They also completed various missions such as close combat tasks using remote weapon stations and logistics transport missions.

A Hyundai Rotem official explained, "As multipurpose unmanned vehicles are essential weapon systems for future battlefield environments based on 4th industrial technologies and unmanned combat equipment, the military has laid the foundation to introduce reliable advanced unmanned weapon systems through this delivery," adding, "For the military pilot operation, research personnel were dispatched to the frontline guard areas to actively support operator training and preventive maintenance."

The multipurpose unmanned vehicles delivered this time are performance-enhanced models based on Hyundai Rotem's self-developed 'HR-Sherpa' and are battery-powered electric vehicles. They are also equipped with cameras capable of detecting up to 4 km day and night, allowing users to monitor real-time surveillance footage remotely via a separate monitor, enabling reconnaissance of extensive guard areas such as the GOP, DMZ, and coastal regions.

Additionally, a system is established where each wheel can exert independent driving force, allowing continued mobility even if one or two wheels are damaged, and the application of airless tires prevents punctures when moving over rough terrain or under attack, maintaining mobility.

Defense unmanned systems are a field with high growth potential, and demand in future markets is expected to increase steadily. The military has announced initiatives such as Defense Reform 2.0 and 'Army Tiger 4.0,' which integrates advanced 4th industrial revolution technologies into combat platforms, and is actively introducing unmanned systems. Global demand for unmanned systems is also expected to rise due to trends such as aging populations and declining birth rates leading to reduced manpower.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.