DAPA presents future weapons

By Yi Whan-woo

A stealth tank, a super-fast submersible propelled by seawater, and swarms of insect-sized drones are on the country’s wish list for its next-generation weapons, according to the arms acquisition agency, Thursday.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), jointly with its R&D institute the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, announced a list of 40 weapons they propose to build using cutting-edge technologies.

Building such weapons will require 63 new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things and 3D printing, that are expected to power the Fourth Industrial Revolution, DAPA said.

“We came up with the list as part of efforts to successfully cope with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and become a leader in the high-tech military weapons business,” DAPA said in a press release.

Developing an invisible stealth tank will rely on metamaterials that can block, absorb or bend waves and make the combat vehicle not visible to radio, infrared and other bands.

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“The tank, if built, will give Korea an edge over the enemy in limited warfare,” a DAPA official said.

A new kind of submersible will be normally powered by electricity during non-emergencies. But it will use a rocket-propelled system powered by seawater if it needs to move fast.

The insect-sized drones will be mounted with sensors that can help them fly in formation and spy on areas that are undetectable by radar.

Other weapons on the list include an unmanned drone capable of flying at high altitude using solar energy and a cyber command system based on artificial intelligence