South Korea is expanding its aerial reconnaissance capabilities. Yesterday, May 17, the Yonhap news agency reported that the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced the signing of a contract with Doosan Mobility Innovation.
Under an 831 million won ($737,000) contract, Doosan Mobility Innovation's hydrogen fuel cell drones will be purchased for the Republic of Korea's Air Force. The parties do not say which models will be purchased, while the contractor produces a wide range of drones, including multicopters, helicopter drones, as well as aircraft-type drones with the possibility of vertical take-off.
Promo video of the DS30 hydrogen drone from Doosan Mobility Innovation
Doosan Mobility Innovation points out that the use of hydrogen as a fuel will allow drones to stay in the air many times longer than their counterparts on electric batteries can do. At the same time, the hydrogen engine is significantly quieter and gives less vibration than engines running on petroleum products.
The press service of DAPA reported that this purchase is a pilot project. It will open the door to the construction of a hydrogen infrastructure in the armed forces and will expand the list of equipment running on hydrogen. Delivery of hydrogen drones is planned for the fall of this year.
