Drones, Robotic Dogs Lead in S. Korea-U.S. Drill Against North's WMD

Reconnaissance drones hovered over a mock enemy site as rifle-mounted assault drones opened fire during a South Korea-U.S. drill aimed at countering North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threats.

The exercise, part of the Freedom Shield military drills, took place on Wednesday at the Mugeon-ri Training Ground in Yangju, about 23 kilometers from the North Korean border. It simulated a wartime scenario where South Korean and U.S. forces worked to secure a facility suspected of housing WMD-related materials.

In the initial phase, reconnaissance drones scanned for enemy activity before assault drones equipped with K2 rifles engaged targets. An uncrewed armored vehicle then advanced, clearing a potential minefield as South Korean and U.S. troops followed under the cover of smoke grenades.

A quadrupedal robot, resembling a robotic dog, was deployed to detect obstacles and potential threats. The device, remotely controlled by troops, entered a warehouse suspected of containing enemy combatants and hazardous materials. Inside, soldiers used the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) for simulated combat, clearing the area while identifying and marking suspected explosives.

The exercise marked the first outdoor deployment of uncrewed ground vehicles by the South Korean Army. This initiative is part of the Army Tiger 4.0 modernization program, which has allocated 1.25 trillion won ($859.4 million) to develop robotic combat systems by 2030.

Troops also advanced into a four-story building, using drones to fire through windows while the robotic dog climbed stairs to scout the interior. Lt. Col. Jang Yun-seong of the 25th Infantry Division said the use of uncrewed systems aims to reduce human casualties and improve intelligence gathering.

The final phase focused on a hangar suspected of holding high-risk WMD materials. A U.S.-supplied PackBot, equipped with sensors, was deployed to detect chemical, biological, and nuclear agents. Once contamination was confirmed, specialized personnel in protective gear entered to neutralize the hazards.

About 500 personnel and over 50 aerial and ground assets, including both crewed and uncrewed systems, participated in the drill. The Freedom Shield exercise, which began Monday, will continue until March 20.