Weapons

DAPA pursues remotely operated howitzers

The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) is examining ways of improving the responsiveness and battlefield efficiency of the Republic of Korea Army's (RoKA's) present 155 mm artillery systems through automation.

Speaking at the Defence IQ Future Artillery conference in London, Lieutenant Colonel Chung Jin Wee of the DAPA Artillery Projects Team outlined a robotic howitzer concept under consideration as a means of rapidly concentrating fire while reducing manning requirements.

Lt Col Chung said it was desirable to minimise potential materiel and manpower losses incurred from North Korean long-range artillery fires and "local counter-firepower attacks" and to allow the operational areas and target servicing capabilities of individual batteries to be expanded, notwithstanding the reduction in overall crewing requirements.