Advanced medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles to be manufactured by 2028, reports local media
South Korea on Thursday said it started the production of a spy drone to enhance its military's surveillance over North Korea.
The country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed a $353.6 million deal with Korean Air, South Korea's biggest airline, along with two defense firms last month to manufacture advanced spy drones by 2028, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.
The state-run Agency for Defense Development initiated the medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (MUAVs) project in 2008 and completed its development in 2022.
The surveillance aircraft will be capable of flying at an altitude of 10-12 kilometers (6.2 to 7.4 miles) and capturing high-resolution images from distances exceeding 100 kilometers (62 miles).
It measures 13 meters (42.6 feet) in length and 3 meters (9.8 feet) in height, and has a wingspan of 25 meters (82 feet), according to the report.
In November last year, North Korea said it "successfully" launched its surveillance satellite into space on its third attempt and claimed its military spy satellite has taken photos of various US sites and installations.
