[2023 National Audit] Stalled Army Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Analysis of Army Audit Data by National Defense Committee Member Song Okju
Over 500 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Recorded 1,112 Malfunctions in 4 Years

The Army's unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have come to a halt. There are concerns that frequent malfunctions and long maintenance periods may limit reconnaissance capabilities.

Rimoai

According to the "Status of UAV Malfunctions in the Army over Four Years (2020-2023)" submitted by the Army Headquarters to Song Ok-ju, a member of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, the Army possesses approximately 510 UAVs. By unit, there are 3 at the Ground Operations Command, about 20 at corps level, around 50 at division level, and approximately 440 at battalion level.

These UAVs experienced a total of 1,112 malfunctions over the past four years. The number of malfunctions has been increasing annually. In 2020, there were 221 malfunctions, which rose to 324 in 2021. Last year, 340 malfunctions occurred, marking a 53.8% increase compared to 2020.

Although the number of UAV malfunctions is rising, repair times have not decreased. UAVs at the Ground Operations Command, corps, and division levels vary in flight duration and performance, but out of 113 malfunctions, only 58 were repaired within 30 days. Repairs completed within 100 days accounted for 20 cases.

One UAV, the Songgolmae (RQ-101), used by a corps unit, has been left unused for 3 years and 5 months due to a lack of parts. This model was also the one North Korea flew south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) last year, prompting the military to conduct counter flights.

Meanwhile, crash incidents have not decreased. The battalion-level UAV, Remoeye, has seen an increase in crashes, leading some units to completely suspend its operation. The Army introduced 651 training drones, but over 100 of them crashed immediately after takeoff. Following these issues, the Army abruptly halted drone usage, and the military police launched an investigation into the bidding and delivery processes. It is reported that the military police are investigating the possibility that the supplier did not manufacture the drones directly but purchased Chinese-made products and then supplied them.

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