Yangju City Unveils Advanced Weapons... Declares Leap Toward Becoming a 'Drone Industry Hub' at Dronebot Festival

Army Ground Operations Command, Gyeonggi Province, and Yangju City Launch the "Army TIGER Dronebot Festival"
From K2 Tanks to Apache Helicopters: A Showcase of Advanced Military Power and Dronebot Seminars
A Platform for Civil-Military-Government Cooperation: Combat System Demonstrations and Drone Competitions Offer Diverse Attractions

The 2025 Army TIGER Dronebot Festival, co-hosted by the Army Ground Operations Command, Gyeonggi Province, and Yangju City, and jointly organized by the Civil-Government-Military Event Promotion Committee, kicked off with its opening ceremony on the 31st at the Ganap-ri Airfield in Gwangjeok-myeon, Yangju City, Gyeonggi Province.

The 2025 Army TIGER Dronebot Festival, co-hosted by the Army Ground Operations Command, Gyeonggi Province, and Yangju City, and jointly organized by the Civil-Government-Military Event Promotion Committee, held its opening ceremony on the 31st at the Ganap-ri Airfield in Gwangjeok-myeon, Yangju City. Photo by Yangju City

Since 2021, the Army Ground Operations Command and Yangju City have hosted the Army TIGER Dronebot Festival annually to introduce the public to various advanced ground force combat weapons and equipment, including the Army’s dronebot combat system. The event also aims to establish a foundation for manned-unmanned integrated systems, foster collaboration among the military, government, and civilians, and enhance public trust in the armed forces.

The opening ceremony of the 2025 Army TIGER Dronebot Festival on the 31st was attended by General Joo Sungwoon, Commander of the Army Ground Operations Command and co-host of the event, Kim Daesoon, the Second Vice Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Kang Soohyun, Mayor of Yangju City, Yoon Changcheol, Chairman of the Yangju City Council, Min Euisik, Chair of the Civil-Government-Military Win-Win Cooperation Council, Park Jeongi, President of the Militech Association, representatives and officials from Yangju City’s veterans organizations, key local institution heads, residents, and military personnel.

The opening ceremony featured congratulatory remarks from the Army Ground Operations Commander, the Second Vice Governor of Gyeonggi Province, the Mayor of Yangju City, and Min Euisik, Chair of the Win-Win Cooperation Council. The event also included an Army Aviation demonstration flight, Taekwondo and special forces martial arts demonstrations, a showcase of the Army TIGER combat system, an MC parade, and a celebratory flight by the Air Force’s MC-130K.

At the opening ceremony, General Joo Sungwoon stated, "The rapidly changing nature of modern warfare shows that dronebot power has become a necessity rather than an option. In response, the Army Ground Operations Command, in coordination with the Ministry of National Defense and the Army’s military innovation efforts, is striving to advance the ground force’s dronebot combat system to lead future battlefields, including designating a dedicated unit for drone and counter-drone demonstrations and deploying multi-legged walking robots for perimeter operations. I hope that this Dronebot Festival, held together with the public, will foster a national consensus on the Army’s direction toward becoming a cutting-edge, powerful force and serve as a festival that everyone can enjoy together."

Kang Soohyun, Mayor of Yangju City, said, "This festival is a collaborative effort among the military, government, and civilians to invigorate the local economy and serve as a stepping stone for Yangju City to become a leading city in the drone industry of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. I hope you create unforgettable memories with your loved ones during the three-day festival."

The 2025 Army TIGER Dronebot Festival, co-hosted by the Army Ground Operations Command, Gyeonggi Province, and Yangju City, and jointly organized by the Civil-Government-Military Event Promotion Committee, held its opening ceremony on the 31st at Ganap-ri Airfield in Gwangjeok-myeon, Yangju City. Provided by Yangju City

From the 31st to November 2nd, during the event period, more than 30 types of core advanced ground force weapons, including the K2 tank, K9 self-propelled howitzer, Cheonmu, Biho Hybrid, Surion and Apache helicopters, and K808 wheeled armored vehicles, are on display, with opportunities for guided tours and hands-on experiences.

Additionally, separate exhibition booths feature a variety of military drones, counter-drone systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and robots developed by the military, domestic private companies, and defense contractors. The festival also offers a range of cultural events and attractions, such as military band and honor guard performances, a drone light show, and fireworks.

In particular, the "Drone Competition," which brings together military personnel and civilians, consists of two categories: drone racing and drone battles. Seven teams comprising 35 military personnel and 78 civilians are participating, with the competition taking place over three days starting on the morning of the 31st.

Meanwhile, prior to the opening ceremony, the "Dronebot Combat Development Seminar" was held on the morning of the 31st to explore the advancement of the Army’s dronebot combat system.

Attended by experts in robotics, drones, and artificial intelligence, the seminar was held under the theme "Development Direction of the Army Dronebot System in Response to Changes in the Future Operational Environment." Presentations and discussions covered topics such as "Dronebot Warfare in Forward Units" (AeroViroment Korea, CEO Hong Yoseop), "Current Status and Future Prospects of Drone Interoperability Technology" (Agency for Defense Development, Dr. Jung Soyeon), "Plans for Establishing an AI-Based Defense MRO+4R Cluster in Yangju City" (Institute for Security Management, Dr. Lee Changyong), and "Army’s Ground Robot Promotion Plan" (Army Headquarters, Colonel Nam Seunghyun). The seminar fostered a strong consensus on the current technological capabilities and future military applications.

The 2025 Army TIGER Dronebot Festival, co-hosted by the Army Ground Operations Command, Gyeonggi Province, and Yangju City, and jointly organized by the Civil-Military Event Promotion Committee, held its opening ceremony on the 31st at Ganap-ri Airfield in Gwangjeok-myeon, Yangju City. Photo by Yangju City

An official from the Army Ground Operations Command stated, "As this event aims to promote the development of the dronebot combat system and embodies the spirit of win-win cooperation among the military, government, and civilians, we hope that many people will visit during the festival to experience various demonstrations, performances, and hands-on activities."

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