On Oct. 14 at the Yangpyeong training ground in Gyeonggi Province, the Army sent robots into a minefield before people. Drones laid smoke, a laser knocked enemy drones out of the sky, and K2 tanks and infantry followed. It was the Army's Army TIGER+ demonstration, aimed at 2040.
Unmanned scouts opened the path
The demo began with scout drones and an unmanned reconnaissance vehicle entering the area first. Attack drones gave covering fire and others laid smoke over the enemy obstacles.
Into the minefield went the K-CEV combat engineer vehicle, scout drones and a four-legged robot. Troops followed behind the unmanned systems, covered by rifle-firing drones.
A laser that swats drones
The anti-air laser weapon Cheongwang shot down enemy drones, while the Biho hybrid air-defence gun and a vehicle-mounted anti-drone system handled simulated ones. Money Today reports the enemy drone was hit despite evasive manoeuvres.
K2 tanks and K21 fighting vehicles stayed in the picture. The unmanned systems run ahead of the old kit rather than replacing it.
"People command, unmanned systems lead"
Army policy chief Lee Kyung-jin said the force is people-centred now but will shift to unmanned systems at the core, with people commanding and controlling them. Nam Seung-hyun, deputy for military innovation, said robots could take over DMZ searches and GP/GOP guard posts.
Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Kyu-ha said the transformation needs the conviction and participation of the Army's members and the understanding and support of the public.
Why robots, why now
The backdrop is a shrinking population and a shrinking pool of conscripts, and the Army is pursuing mixed manned-unmanned units in response.
The Army plans to expand its Army TIGER+ pilot units to 14 types and to use the newly opened Pangyo AX hub to recreate the Yangpyeong and Mugeolli training grounds as digital twins for training AI.
Good to know
The demonstration was an Army event and no public viewing schedule has been announced. The 7-minute-31-second KFN report above, from the Defense Media Agency, shows the scene.
