South Korea Marks Armed Forces Day with First Public Display of Laser Anti-Drone System
South Korea marked its 78th Armed Forces Day with 3,600 personnel and about 70 weapons systems, unveiling the Cheongwang laser anti-drone system and other unmanned assets for the first time.
The military showcased two laser-based anti-drone air defense systems, called Cheongwang, in a demonstration of their ability to intercept drones, according to Yonhap. The systems are designed to precisely strike small unmanned aerial vehicles, and this was their first public unveiling.
Other assets shown for the first time included drone swarms powered by artificial intelligence, multipurpose unmanned ground vehicles and counter-drone interceptor UAVs, Yonhap reported.
During the event, the government planned to award the Chungmu Order of Military Merit to late Lt. Col. Kim Oh-rang and late Ssg. Jung Seon-yeop for their roles against the 1979 military coup led by then Maj. Gen. Chun Doo-hwan. Both were shot to death while fighting against rebelling forces during the Dec. 12 military coup.
The event was organized alongside cultural programs planned by the military, including the Army's largest cultural festival, scheduled from Thursday to Monday. The Air Force's Black Eagles aerobatic team was also due to perform later in the day.
The government plans to expand the Armed Forces Day event with major events held by the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, according to Yonhap. The aim is to highlight the distinct characteristics of each military branch and to present self-reliant national defense capabilities to the public.