"Crash After Crash, Bringing Shame on the Country"—'K-Drones' Fail Repeatedly in Front of 1,500 Defense Experts

[Financial News] Drones operated by private companies participating in a technology demonstration hosted by the Ministry of National Defense crashed one after another. Military authorities immediately launched an investigation into the circumstances.
The Ministry of National Defense held the 2026 Defense Drone Technology Expo at the Seungjin Training Ground in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the morning of the 16th, showcasing advanced technologies from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and defense companies. The event was held for the first time to open a military training ground to private companies, provide them with opportunities for field testing, and secure technologies tailored to military needs.
The event featured various unmanned systems in actual operation, including artificial intelligence (AI) swarm drones, high-speed jet-powered unmanned aircraft, direct-impact attack drones, drop-attack drones, laser counter-drone systems, AI-based autonomous firing systems, and hypersonic interceptor drones.
However, problems arose when some weapons systems, including drones, failed to take off properly, plunged downward, or crashed. A total of 17 missions were demonstrated that day, but six failed. The failed demonstrations reportedly included direct-impact drones, swarm rotary-wing drones, and air-to-ground guided missiles mounted on drones developed by small and medium-sized defense companies, as well as a medium-sized jet-engine-powered unmanned aircraft developed by KAI.
An official from the Ministry of National Defense said, "Although some companies' products did not successfully complete the demonstrations, this should be viewed not as a failure but as part of the process of developing better technology." The official added, "The Ministry of National Defense will continue to promote technological development without fearing failure."
There was also a previous case of a failed drone demonstration at a military public event. During a combat test on the 25th of last month, a medium-sized suicide unmanned aircraft was launched from the 14,500-ton-class ROKS Marado. The aircraft flew for several seconds before crashing, and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) explained that a defect in the aircraft's launch tube caused the accident.
Meanwhile, military authorities are reportedly focusing on the possibility that frequency interference caused by mobile phones and other devices may have occurred as crowds gathered at the demonstration.
[email protected] Reporter Kim Hee-sun Reporter