A major drone expo in the South Korean port city of Busan this month highlights the country’s ambition to become a global leader in military drone technology, but underdeveloped systems and intense competition remain significant obstacles to realizing this goal.

The ROK has become a global leader in defense exports in recent years, a reality driven home by its negotiation of a $3 billion agreement with Saudi Arabia for LIG Nex1’s Cheongung M-SAM II missiles last month.

Now, the country’s defense manufacturers are looking to build on this success by expanding into new domains, increasingly exploring tactical advancements and the