South Korea Shifts from 60 and 81 mm Mortars to FPV drones

28 October, 2024 South Korean soldiers firing with 81mm mortars. Photo: Ministry of Defense of South Korea South Korea is abandoning 60 and 81 mm mortars and replacing them with FPV drones.

This is reported by m.mt. with reference to Park An-su, South Korean Chief of Army Staff. The abandonment of 60 and 81 mm mortars is part of the army's modernization, taking into account the current experience of combat operations, which is demonstrated on the battlefields in Ukraine. A plan to replace mortars below the battalion level has been adopted by the Ministry of Defense and should be implemented in a few years.

In his address to the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly, Army Chief of Staff Park An-su emphasized the importance of fundamental changes in the army and stated the following: "We are currently planning to rearm mortar units with drones."

He also added that "the army has created a new military structure that will replace 60mm and 81mm mortar batteries with drones." The army has now finalized its plan to reorganize mortar units, known as the "Dronebot (Drone/Robot) Company," which aims to facilitate units using weapons with a range of up to 10 km. "The effective range of these mortars is about 2-3 km, but the weight reaches about 20 kg for 60 mm and more than 40 kg for 81 mm.

The army explains that instead of infantry units working with mortars, attack drones can deliver accurate strikes over longer distances," the Chief of Staff clarified. Among the advantages of drones mentioned were their ease of use, reduced number of personnel to operate and transport drones, and higher accuracy. In addition to drones, the reorganization plan also envisages the creation of special space reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and cyber units.

It should be noted that despite the adoption of this reorganization plan, this decision may be changed in the future.

Previously, Militarnyi reported that the U.S.

Army is testing two cargo drones to work in conjunction with maritime drones as part of Project Convergence 2025.