Multiple news agencies, including the Yonhap News Agency and The Korea Times  are reporting that South Korea plans to introduce an integrated anti-drone system to counter hostile unmanned aircraft at key government and military facilities.

In response to North Korea’s drone incursions, Seoul has taken steps to enhance its anti-drone capabilities. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has issued a notice on its procurement website for a project worth 48.5 billion won ($37.2 million). This initiative aims to strengthen South Korea’s defenses against unauthorized drones.

As part of the project, DAPA is looking to acquire a counter-drone system from local companies for the Army, Navy, and Air Force use. Bids for the system will be accepted until August 8. The system is expected to have the capability to detect small-sized drones and effectively neutralize them by jamming their signals.

“In order to prepare against various North Korean unmanned assets and drones, DAPA is enhancing substantive response capabilities,” DAPA spokesperson Col. Choi Kyung-ho told a regular press briefing. “We will make efforts so that the project for the integrated anti-drone system for key areas can be carried out in a timely way.”

Last December, five North Korean drones intruded across the inter-Korean border, with one of them having penetrated a no-fly zone close to Seoul’s presidential office.

South Korea has been actively enhancing its anti-drone capabilities. As part of these efforts, the military plans to establish a drone operations command with a range of missions, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike operations. The command is expected to be launched later this year.

According to Col. Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military is currently evaluating potential locations for the unit, with a preference for establishing it in the northern city of Pocheon.