Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 1 hr ago
South Korea’s Coast Guard drones face limits in rough sea conditions
South Korea’s Coast Guard relies on drones for sea patrols and safety work, but most have limited flight time and range.
The agency has 61 drones, and they flew 1,012 hours in the first eight months of this year, more than the 922 hours flown in all of last year.
In calm conditions, the small drones carried on ships can fly for up to 90 minutes and cover a mission radius of about 20 kilometres.
Strong winds can sharply reduce their flight time and speed, making distant searches and monitoring at sea difficult.
By comparison, medium-sized drones used by the US Coast Guard can stay airborne for about 13 hours and cover a radius of up to 500 kilometres.
The Coast Guard sought 1.6 billion won in next year’s government budget to test and rent two medium-sized drones, but the request was not included.
A lawmaker said he would work to secure the funding, while the Coast Guard says the trial would help assess whether to bring in larger drones over the longer term.
South Korea’s Coast Guard has 61 drones, but their limited endurance and range constrain wide-area maritime surveillance.
The small ship-based drones can fly for up to 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes in still air, with a mission radius of about 20 kilometres.
Strong winds can sharply reduce their flight time and speed, limiting their use in distant maritime search and surveillance.
The Coast Guard sought 1.6 billion won for tests and leasing of two medium-sized drones next year, but the requested budget was not included.
Lawmaker Shin Jang-sik called for considering medium-sized drones that can remain airborne for more than 10 hours in strong winds and bad weather.
- Who
- South Korea’s Coast Guard operates the drones. Lawmaker Shin Jang-sik raised concerns about their limits.
- What
- The Coast Guard’s small drones have limited endurance and range, especially in strong winds, restricting maritime search and surveillance.
- When
- The report was published on October 18, 2026. Drone-use figures cover January to August 2026.
- Where
- South Korea’s maritime areas.
- Why
- Strong winds reduce the drones’ flight time and speed, while their endurance and mission radius are limited.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Coast Guard’s drones recorded 1,012 hours of operation.
Yonhap reported that the Coast Guard’s requested budget for testing and leasing two medium-sized drones next year was not included.
- Drones held
- 61
- Drone use, January–August 2026
- 1,012 hours
- Small-drone endurance
- Up to 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes in still air
- Small-drone mission radius
- About 20 kilometres
- Requested budget
- 1.6 billion won for testing and leasing two medium-sized drones
- Medium-drone comparison
- About 13 hours’ flight time and a 500-kilometre mission radius for US Coast Guard drones
1 source
What people are saying
To secure maritime security and safety, it is necessary to consider introducing medium-sized unmanned aircraft that can remain airborne for more than 10 hours and provide wide-area surveillance even in strong winds and bad weather.
I will work to ensure the relevant budget is included.