ADEX 2025 – KDI’s Compact Munition Drop Drone: South Korea’s new benchmark for precision strike systems

The Compact Munition Drop Drone, developed by Korea Defence Industry Corp., stands out as one of the most significant technological innovations showcased at ADEX 2025. Presented as a compact light-munition system tailored for precision operations, this tactical drone embodies South Korea’s expanding vision of automated warfare that blends human-machine cooperation with intelligent guided weaponry

System Architecture and Design Concept

The Compact Munition Drop Drone is an electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platform built from carbon fibre composites to minimise radar and thermal signatures. With an operational weight of 15 to 25 kilograms and a payload capacity of up to 8 kilograms, it can totally carry several micro-bombs, either fragmentation or shape charge.

The drone boasts over 30 minutes of autonomy thanks to its lithium-polymer battery package. It is designed to fly at altitudes between 300 and 500 meters, and its low acoustic characteristics of less than 50 dB when flying above 300 meters ensure a discreet approach and engagement.

It can be piloted manually, semi-autonomously, or fully autonomously, and uses encrypted data link via 2.4 GHz military networks or self-development network, depending on mission profile.

Sensors and detection capabilities

The Compact Munition Drop Drone integrates a full suite of multi-spectral sensors for real-time surveillance and target acquisition. This includes electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) cameras for day-night vision, a Laser Range Finder (LRF) for accurate distance measurement, and GNSS/INS and inertial navigation sensors (IMU) for stable flight and geolocation.

The onboard AI-based image analysis software automatically recognises and classifies potential targets such as vehicles, personnel, or structures, classifies them, enabling detection, tracking, and engagement in combat environments.

Armament and engagement modes

Developed by Korea Defence Industry Corp., the drone’s lightweight munitions employ AI-assisted GNSS/INS guidance that ensures a strike precision of less than 2 metres. Three engagement modes are available:

• Operator-Assisted Mode – Full manual control of flight and targeting via a portable console.
• Semi-Autonomous Mode – Target detected automatically, engagement confirmed by human operator.
• Supervised Autonomous Mode – Full automatic operation with human override authority.

This three-tier autonomy concept follows the national K-AI Defence doctrine, ensuring ethical oversight and human accountability remain integral to weaponised AI use.

Operational Flexibility

The Compact Munition Drop Drone can be deployed from ground positions, armoured vehicles, or even airborne platforms, enabling multi-domain integration. Its modular cartridge and folding arms simplify transport and field readiness for small units.

Korea Defense Industry Corp. is also developing advanced swarm operations algorithms that enable multiple drones to operate cooperatively within a network. This allows multiple drones to securely communicate with the Ground Control Station (GCS) to share targeting information, enabling coordinated, multi-axis attacks against enemy positions or mobile assets. This approach is inspired by lessons learned from modern combat theatres like Ukraine and the Middle East.

Effectiveness against fixed and moving targets

Against stationary targets—such as fortified positions, depots, or small craft—the drone achieves a CEP (circular error probable) of less than 2 metre through stabilised weapon release.

When engaging moving targets, its predictive-tracking algorithms compensate for target motion with up to 70–80% hit probability against light vehicles and infantry in movement. However, efficiency slightly decreases against faster or manoeuvring targets due to onboard computational limits and communication latency.

Logistics and Maintenance Considerations

The drone’s modular design allows for rapid field maintenance with replaceable rotors, sensors, and battery packs requiring minimal tools. It can be redeployed in under ten minutes between sorties.

Its power systems demand regular charge management to optimise endurance, while EO/IR sensors require routine calibration to maintain peak detection accuracy. Korea Defence Industry Corp. provides a field maintenance service, ensuring high availability rates even in austere environments.

A Network-Centric warfare asset

The Compact Munition Drop Drone represents a milestone in South Korea’s march toward autonomous precision warfare. Designed to function both individually and in synchronised swarms, it embodies the shift toward distributed lethality and network-based combat integration.

Displayed prominently in the Korean Defence Pavilion at ADEX 2025, this platform affirms South Korea’s ambition to lead the next generation of lightweight armed drones—blending precision, intelligence, and survivability into a unified vision of the “K-Defense” future.

Photos by J. Roukoz