South Korea to develop unmanned ground sensors to monitor the Demilitarized Zone 41811152

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Defence & Security News - (South Korea)
 
South Korea to develop unmanned ground sensors to monitor the Demilitarized Zone
The South Korean defence procurement agency (DAPA) will acquire a number of sensors that will be used to monitor the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with North Korea. The agreement was signed today with the Hanwha Thales with a value of USD3.1 million.
     
South Korea to develop unmanned ground sensors to monitor the Demilitarized Zone
The Demilitarized Zone dividing South and North Korea is 250 km long and 4 km wide.
(Photo: Google Maps)
     

According to the South Korean media sources, it is understood that the sensors will be placed on towers and will be remotely controlled by C2 centres. They will be used to provide surveillance across the full extent of the DMZ, in order to detect infiltration efforts from the northern side. The system could possibly be combined with a weapon system.

The technology demonstration phase will be finished within 2016. If the system will be considered feasible it will be followed by the prototype development phase, which is expected to last until 2019. Then the system would be deployed across the borders and will be used by the Army and Marines. It will be complemented by a separate programme, which will bring new UAVs to monitor the DMZ.

This programme is the result of concerns, due to a series of recent defection attempts and the border’s crossing from North Korean infiltrators who laid mines. These blew up and severely injured two South Korean soldiers.