Report: South Korea Demos ‘World’s First’ Photonic Radar for Small Objects

South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has demonstrated an AI-based photonic radar technology for the detection and identification of small aerial targets such as drones.

The technology allows the detection and identification of targets difficult to detect from existing optical equipment such as cameras.

It involves converting laser light into electromagnetic wave signals and sending them toward a target.

Reflected signals are analyzed and processed with the help of AI to confirm the presence and identity of the target.

World First

Targets were detected from several kilometers away in an outdoor environment during the demonstration.

It was the first real-life demonstration of the technology in the world, according to the ADD.

“In foreign countries, there are papers that have confirmed the possibility of identification using simulations, but there are no cases of successful identification in a real environment,” it added.

Future Plans

The technology has been in development under the Future Challenge National Defense Technology Development Project since 2022.

The ADD plans to set up an industrial ecosystem, including research, development, and combat experiments to discover follow-up tasks.

“As demonstrated through this technology demonstration, I am very pleased that ADD’s AI-based optical radar technology is demonstrating outstanding performance in a real environment,” director of the Third Technology Research Institute of ADD Jeong Seong-tae said.

“We will strive to further develop this technology and provide innovative solutions in the K-defense surveillance and reconnaissance field.”