Saher Liaqat

Opinion | South Korea’s arms exports are reshaping the global defence landscape

Seoul’s rise as an arms exporter is serving the interests not only of its defence firms but also the US and Indo-Pacific partners

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South Korean Army K2 tanks participate in a joint military drill with Qatari ground forces at the Al Qalayel training centre in Qatar on October 21. Seoul is reshaping traditional power dynamics in military cooperation. Photo: Handout / EPA-EFE

Saher Liaqat

Published: 5:30am, 27 Oct 2024

As Russia’s arms export capacity narrows due to its war in Ukraine, nations such as South Korea, Italy, and France have used the shifting global security dynamics to draw in international buyers and aggressively expand their defence export markets. The ascent of South Korea as a significant player in the global arms export market is fundamentally reshaping the geopolitical dynamics and strategic alignments of global defence alliances in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

The 2024 Korea Army International Defence Industry Exhibition (Kadex), which took place in Gyeryongdae from October 2-6, brought attention to South Korea’s expanding defence exports and its willingness to offer partner countries complete packages which include technology transfer and training.

The event, attended by more than 500 exhibitors from over 50 countries, indicated Seoul’s desire to take on long-standing defence industry superpowers such as Russia and the United States. Leading South Korean defence firms, including Hanwha Systems and Hyundai Rotem, displayed their state-of-the-art equipment.

South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Programme Administration revealed during the exhibition it had purchased more than 100 Warmate-3 loitering munitions – a combat unmanned aerial vehicle – from WB Group of Poland.

The acquisition is expected to improve South Korea’s operational capabilities since the Warmate-3 can interface with artillery systems and operate in swarms. It has an operational range of 30km and is compatible with various warheads.

The purchase supports the exhibition’s emphasis on presenting cutting-edge defence technologies and reflects South Korea’s increasing desire to improve its military prowess in the cutthroat international arena.