WANA (Jun 26) – South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense has announced plans to develop and deploy low-cost loitering munitions based on the design of Iran’s Shahed-136 drone.

 

According to the ministry, the indigenous loitering drones will be developed through reverse engineering of the Shahed-136 as part of Seoul’s broader initiative to strengthen its unmanned aerial capabilities. Once development and testing are completed, the drones are expected to enter operational service with the South Korean military.

 

In addition to the domestic development program, South Korea plans to acquire more than 20,000 low-cost drones, including short-range reconnaissance UAVs and loitering munitions, to enhance the capabilities of its armed forces.

 

The move reflects the growing global emphasis on inexpensive, expendable drones, which have become increasingly prominent in modern warfare. Their relatively low production cost and ability to conduct saturation attacks have made them a key element in the evolving nature of contemporary military operations.

 

Developed by Iran, the Shahed-136 has become one of the world’s best-known loitering munitions in recent years. Its simple design, long operational range, and comparatively low production cost have attracted significant attention from military analysts and defense industries, with various reports indicating that several countries are pursuing similar systems.

 

South Korea’s official announcement comes amid intensifying global competition to develop affordable loitering munitions, as militaries around the world increasingly adapt their force structures to incorporate scalable, cost-effective unmanned systems.