South Korea to replace mortars with drones, inspired by Ukraine
According to the Global Firepower 2024 rankings, South Korea has the fifth-strongest army in the world and plans to replace its current mortars with drones. In many situations, drones demonstrate greater potential and can more effectively weaken enemy forces. These plans are influenced by Ukrainian experiences in conflicts with Russians.
South Korean media report that these plans are already at the "final stage of approval," a fact confirmed by the head of the local army staff, among others. All 60 mm and 81 mm calibre mortars will be withdrawn from service.
South Korea draws lessons from the war in Ukraine
The main argument for moving away from these armaments is their limited range. A 60 mm mortar can hit targets up to about 3 kilometres away, and the entire set weighs about 20 kilograms. An 81 mm mortar, on the other hand, allows targets to be attacked up to a maximum of 6 kilometres away, but is noticeably heavier, weighing around 40 kilograms per set.
Operating such weapons close to the enemy is, therefore, very difficult. Conversely, remotely controlled drones are much more feasible. Seoul observed this during the clashes between Ukrainians and Russians. Moreover, they are aware that North Korea can quickly equip its armed forces with inexpensive, mass-produced drones.
This primarily concerns FPV (first-person view) drones, unmanned aircraft with built-in cameras that provide a real-time live feed. These drones act as kamikaze weapons, dropping ammunition on enemy equipment or performing direct strikes on targets.
Weapons that proved their effectiveness
The war in Ukraine demonstrated that even small commercial drones can be suitably modified for military use. Advanced military drones will be more expensive but can deliver significantly better performance. It's likely that the South Korean army will opt for such designs.
It's worth noting that these are not the first reports suggesting that even countries not directly involved in aiding Ukraine are closely observing the progress of its war with Russia. South Korea might reconsider its agreement to purchase American AH-64E Apache helicopters, as experts highlight drones' aerial dominance and Russian helicopters' vulnerability to MANPADS attacks.
In the context of changes related to mortars, it is emphasized that Seoul does not plan to move away from larger weapons, such as 120 mm and 107 mm calibre artillery.
