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Marking the 78th anniversary of the founding of the armed forces, the Ministry of National Defense unveiled new cutting-edge manned-unmanned teaming systems in the military's arsenal. Pictured are a drone interception demonstration by the laser anti-aircraft weapon "Cheongwang" (top), a multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicle (bottom left), and a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) showcased during the Armed Forces Day media day on the 29th of last month. / Yonhap

The military showcased key advanced weapon systems, including the high-yield surface-to-surface ballistic missile "Hyunmoo-5" and the domestically developed laser anti-aircraft weapon "Cheongwang," during the 78th Armed Forces Day ceremony on the 1st. Through a live demonstration of shooting down drones with lasers and displays of manned-unmanned teaming systems, the military demonstrated defense capabilities tailored for future battlefields.

The Ministry of National Defense held the ceremony along the runway at Gyeryongdae in South Chungcheong Province under the theme "Realizing Self-Reliant Defense! Irreplaceable Armed Forces." Around 3,500 people attended, including President Lee Jae-myung, Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Jin Young-seung. The event was held in conjunction with the 2026 Ground Forces Festival and the Gyeryong Military Culture Festival.

Key assets of the Korea Three-Axis System designed to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats were on display. Alongside the Hyunmoo-5, the Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM) and the medium-range surface-to-air missile Cheongung-II (M-SAM) were presented.

In particular, the Cheongwang laser anti-aircraft weapon, developed with homegrown indigenous technology, was also unveiled. The military conducted a demonstration shooting down four drones using Cheongwang. Mainstay ground armaments such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the K2 main battle tank were displayed, while a light tactical vehicle mounted with a 120mm mortar was revealed to the public for the first time.

Manned-unmanned teaming capabilities also drew spectator interest. Multi-legged walking robots, unmanned reconnaissance vehicles, autonomous underwater mine search vehicles, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) robots, and multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicles were exhibited. AI-based drone swarms and anti-drone interceptor unmanned aerial vehicles were likewise showcased.

During the main ceremony, joint entrance by leaders, commissioned officers, cadets, and enlisted representatives from each service branch added symbolic meaning to the Armed Forces Day celebration across all ranks. The government conferred the Order of Military Merit (Chungmu) posthumously upon the late Lieutenant Colonel Kim Oh-rang and Sergeant Jeong Seon-yeop, who were killed in action resisting the December 12 military rebellion. Post-ceremony festivities featured joint civilian-military percussion performances, national defense policy briefings, aerial flypasts, and precision aerobatics by the Air Force's Black Eagles flight demonstration team.

President Lee, who attended wearing a military-green tie, emphasized his determination to realize self-reliant defense through the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON). "Self-reliant national defense is synonymous with sovereignty," President Lee stated. "Going forward, we will place the final touch by regaining wartime operational control, and together with our people, we will definitively fulfill this half-century-long dream of self-reliant defense."

                                                                                                             Lee Han-sol