The Swarm of Drones
"That’s correct. That is why we recently equipped them with high-efficiency batteries, increasing their range to around 60km. We believe it is feasible to mount launchers on our Navy’s high-speed boats or logistics support ships, like the Cheonji-class, to carry out attacks. If the Navy finds the current range insufficient, we can easily extend it by developing a new variant of the suicide drone."
"Is it possible to launch these drones from a helicopter?"
"Yes, it is. While each launcher can store 20 Switchblade C units, mission success requires a larger number of suicide drones. Using two helicopters, such as the UH-60 or Surion series, would allow us to meet the conditions demonstrated today."
"Would it be possible to launch them from an anti-submarine patrol aircraft?"
"Are you referring to a method using the sonobuoy launch tubes?"
"Yes, exactly."
"Technically, that is not difficult. If the Navy adopts these suicide swarm drones after this evaluation, we will develop a launch method compatible with sonobuoy tubes."
The Switchblade supplied by Starlink Defense had been adopted as a weapon only by the Army and Marine Corps. Since the Navy and Air Force had not yet expressed a desire to purchase them, CEO Park In-tak made it a point to mention that he would develop the patrol aircraft launch method on the condition that the Navy committed to a purchase.
Listening to the Navy official's questions, CEO Park had an epiphany: he could use Air Force transport planes to launch the suicide drones. He made a mental note to discuss this with officials from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration later.
A Navy official raised a hand. "To neutralize an Aegis destroyer, one must strike the radar or the weapon systems. Can the electro-optical camera mounted on the Switchblade identify those specific parts?"
"Of course. The Switchblade operator can manually target those systems using the electro-optical camera, or the drone can utilize an automatic attack function that matches the target against internal radar or weapon image data. The operator can choose the attack method that best suits the situation. For the record, since we cannot attack the ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong directly today, we have installed a structure on a barge that mimics the shape of a radar and vertical launch system."
"Then, is today’s evaluation based on the operator manually attacking, or is the drone deciding and attacking based on its own software?"
"The operator-controlled method has already been verified multiple times, so for this test, we have set the attack method to be determined by the AI-based suicide drone itself."
"Is it possible to change or abort the target mid-attack?"
"Yes. When an abort command is issued, you can choose between self-destruction or changing the flight path."
As the questions from the Navy and Defense Acquisition Program Administration officials subsided, the Cheonji arrived in international waters. The captain’s announcement echoed through the ship, signaling they had reached the target area.
Attention to all crew and participants in the Switchblade evaluation: We have reached the target waters. We have received confirmation that the ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong is ready alongside the barge.
CEO Park heard the announcement and declared, "Alright! Let’s begin the swarm Switchblade evaluation."
At his command, the Starlink Defense staff performed a final check of the launchers and control equipment, and CEO Park explained the scenario. "As you know, the Switchblade lacks the means to detect enemies at long range. We will launch the drones in the same direction, assuming the enemy is present based on data provided by satellites or friendly ships. For the record, if the Switchblade gains altitude and the enemy ship is captured by the electro-optical camera, it is capable of self-identification."
CEO Park handed the microphone to the Switchblade controller, who swallowed hard before initiating the test scenario.
"Enemy ship detected 40km away at a 30-degree angle! Prepare two Switchblade launchers!"
The staff member in charge of the launchers and control terminal confirmed everything was nominal. "Launchers and control terminal status: Nominal! Launch preparation complete!"
"Launch!"
At the controller's command, the staff member pressed the launch switch, and the Switchblade units began to fire from the tubes in sequence.
"Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!"
Because the launchers used pneumatic pressure, the sound of air bursting echoed repeatedly as the Switchblade units mounted on the two launchers were fired sequentially. Once they reached the sky, the drones flew toward the barge, and the initially disorganized swarm began to tighten the distance between each unit as they flew.
As the participants watched the Switchblade units form a formation on the screen provided by the Navy helicopter's camera, they began to ask questions.
"Can you choose the formation method arbitrarily?"
"Of course. Currently, the Switchblade units are flying in a centralized formation, and they will disperse once they reach the target."
"It’s slower than I thought."
"It’s about 120km/h, so it might seem that way. But from the perspective of the target being attacked, it will look incredibly fast."
Captain Lee Yong-wook of the ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong, upon receiving the radio report that the Switchblade had been launched from the Cheonji, called the petty officer in charge of the multi-function radar.
"Petty Officer Lee! Is there anything on the scope?"
"The objects are so small that identification is difficult."
The AN/SPY-1D(V) radar mounted on the Ryu Seong-ryong was capable of detecting enemy aircraft up to 1,000km away and could track sea-skimming missiles from 80km out, but the Switchblade units were too small to be clearly identified.
"Captain! I have a contact. Given the flickering, it’s definitely a drone. It looks like the Switchblade is under 2 meters in size. It’s appearing as a flickering signal on the radar."
"Assign an identification number!"
"Captain! There are 25 identified drones. No, the number is increasing again. The number confirmed on radar appears to be 35."
"What? Check again!"
"They seem to be flying close to the water surface, bunched together. It’s difficult to get an accurate count on radar."
Captain Lee Yong-wook decided to fire the RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) first, as the RAM missiles and the Goalkeeper CIWS were the only defensive weapons approved for use today.
"Can you identify their current position?"
"Yes. We cannot confirm the exact quantity, but the position is confirmed."
"We have to shoot down the drones flying in that cluster. Prepare the RAM!"
"RAM preparation complete!"
"Launch!"
Captain Lee fired the 500-million-won-per-shot RAM missile to eliminate the drones, aiming for the lead unit in the group. As the drones detected the thermal signature from the front, they began to scatter from the swarm mode into a dispersed formation.
The helicopter filming the Switchblade moved away to avoid any potential accidents, and it confirmed the RAM missile approaching the swarm from the Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong. The missile arrived at the swarm's location in an instant at Mach 2, detonating near the lead Switchblade.
BOOM!
The fragmentation blast warhead detonated in front of the swarm, spreading outward and wiping out five Switchblade units within the blast radius.
Captain Lee ordered the next missile prepared simultaneously with the RAM launch, and as the Switchblade swarm approached, the exact count began to emerge.
"How many drones are left?"
The petty officer monitoring the radar replied, "Currently, 31 to 35 drones are identified. They’ve started bunching up again, making an exact count impossible."
"This is driving me crazy. They scatter when we fire a RAM... They say one Switchblade costs 14 million won, but I’m firing 500-million-won missiles at them. The math doesn't add up."
"Captain, the drones have entered within 10km. 35 drones identified."
"Fire the RAM and prepare the Goalkeeper immediately!"
The petty officer in charge of weapons fired the RAM missile, and Captain Lee hoped the approaching Switchblade swarm would be wiped out by the fragmentation blast this time.
As the swarm approached the barge, they began to disperse again, hugging the water surface as closely as possible to avoid radar detection. As another RAM missile flew in from the front, the Switchblade units spread out even further, and the missile detonated in the center.
Captain Lee, watching through the radar, asked the petty officer in charge of the air defense radar, "How many Switchblade units were destroyed?"
"A total of 4 were shot down. There are 31 drones remaining."
"Damn it! Only 4 shot down with a 500-million-won missile... Is the Goalkeeper ready?"
"Yes, it’s in automatic mode. It will engage as soon as they are within range."
"What is the current distance?"
"5km."
Captain Lee trusted the Goalkeeper, which could fire over 70 rounds per second, and prepared to do his best. He ordered preparations to replace the 30mm ammunition, knowing the magazine would be depleted in an instant.
"Prepare for a magazine change!"
"Captain, a magazine change takes over 9 minutes. We don't have enough time."
"Just get it ready!"
Captain Lee had 21 RAM missiles on his ship, but with only 9 Switchblade units destroyed by the two live-fire shots, he ordered the Goalkeeper magazine change just in case.
"Captain! The Switchblade swarm is about to enter the Goalkeeper range."
Captain Lee watched the barge next to the Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong, hoping the Goalkeeper would do its job. A signal sounded, and the Goalkeeper began to eliminate the lead Switchblade units. The sound of hundreds of rounds firing at once, accompanied by a grinding noise, echoed through the ship, and the petty officer in charge of the air defense radar began to shout.
"4 destroyed! 3 destroyed! 5 destroyed! 2 destroyed! 3 destroyed! 5 destroyed! Goalkeeper ammunition depleted!"
"How many are left, and what is the distance?"
"9 left."
"Damn it! A 1-trillion-won Aegis ship being toyed with by drones that cost a little over 10 million won... Weapons officer, check the magazine change time!"
"...7 minutes remaining."
"Current distance...?"
"1km remaining."
The Switchblade units, with their characteristic buzzing sound, headed toward the barge. As they neared the barge, they gained altitude. They compared the images captured by their electro-optical cameras with those stored in their central processing units, and according to the input priorities, they began their suicide attacks on the radar, vertical launch tubes, and other systems.
As the Switchblade units pierced the Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong's air defense network and detonated, the evaluation participants stared at the screens provided by the cameras on the helicopter and barge with bewildered expressions.