South Korea will purchase an Israeli-built UAV for tactical operations and border patrols, a military source here said Dec. 18.
Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems’ Skylark II won a contract valued at several million dollars, beating out a number of companies from around the world, said the source.

“The UAV deal is the first phase of the contract involving a comprehensive Skylark II system and believed to lead to additional deals in the future,” he said. “The Israeli drone will be used in accruing advanced UAV technology as well as in monitoring activities in North Korea.”

Elbit Systems officials confirmed the deal in a news release.
“We are proud to be selected by the Korean military and believe that Elbit Systems’ unique qualities and operational experience in developing UAVs in general and mini UAVs in particular, will contribute to position the Skylark II as a leader in its field,” said Haim Kellerman, corporate vice president and general manager of Elbit Systems’ UAV division.
The Skylark II mini-UAV system, built to observe, collect data and mark targets during the day, at night and all kinds of weather, is powered by a silent, electric-propulsion system that has a range of more than 60 kilometers. The system is deployed using a Humvee-class field vehicle fitted with a launcher and an advanced dual-station Ground Control Station, the news release said.

The South Korean military is seeking to acquire high-tech UAVs and related technology in a bid to develop its independent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The country’s Air Force plans to create a tactical reconnaissance wing composed of reconnaissance and surveillance planes, airborne early warning and control system aircraft, and high- and medium-altitude UAVs by 2012.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration earlier this year requested about $200 million for the purchase of four high-flying Global Hawk UAVs from the United States by 2011. The Global Hawk is designed to survey vast areas with near-pinpoint accuracy from as high as 65,000 feet for up to 35 hours. The plan has been stalled as overseas sales of the aircraft are prohibited under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

South Korea also plans to build four indigenous medium-altitude UAVs by 2016 as part of its mid- to long-term arms acquisition programs.

The IAI Searcher II UAV became the basis of the development of RQ-101 Night Intruder UAV in service with the ROK Army. No doubt the Skylark will do the same.

KAIST has already built a prototype UAV.

Go South Korea! They're like the Israel of eastern Asia.

I guess we kind of are.

uh not really.

1. we'd destroy israel in a war
2. israel is not a modern country, and 30% live in poverty
3. we're not jews.

Both our army and the air force takes lessons from the Israelis you know--like half the world, but nevertheless. I'd rate Israeli field army slightly superior to ours, and the air force much more so despite being smaller.

Israel has many battle experience like USA. Who can blame them? Their country is surrounded by bunch of angry hostile muslim countries + palastinians.

^
exactly, and ppl are always quick to criticize, but its acting like any other democratic country would in their situation.



lol, actually israel is a modern country.