South Korean army showcases future fighting force

The RoK Army has created an Army Tiger Demonstration Brigade to test manned-unmanned operations that leverage technologies including AI and unmanned systems such as this 6×6 unmanned surveillance vehicle developed by Hanwha Defense. (Hanwha Defense)

The Republic of Korea (RoK) Army has showcased a new combat unit known as the Army Tiger Demonstration Brigade (ATDB) in a training exercise with the United States.

The exercise was held in Paju city, near the North Korean border. The US Army’s quick reaction unit known as Stryker Brigade Combat Team also participated in the drills.

The ATDB is designed to integrate artificial intelligence (AI), unmanned systems, and intelligence-based concepts into the RoK Army combat brigades in the coming decade and beyond.

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) created the ATDB in 2022 within the RoK Army’s 25th Infantry Division in Yangju, Gyeonggi-do province, which is responsible for command-and-control operations.

“Since declaring the first ATDB in 2022, the RoK Army is planning to gradually reform the structure and power system of its brigades and turn all combat brigades into ATDBs by 2040,” an MND spokesperson told Janes.