Kepco E&C takes first step in protecting nuclear power plants from drones

Kepco Engineering & Construction Co. has teamed up with South Korea's defense company Terra Defense to establish a system aimed at protecting nuclear plants from unmanned aerial vehicles, better known as drones.

Kepco signed an MOU with Terra Defense on Feb. 9 on technology and business cooperation in the area of anti-drone protection systems.

An anti-drone system will detect, track and neutralize unauthorized drones, including so-called 'suicide drones' that can cripple critical national facilities.

The move comes amid increased safety concerns for important national facilities in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine and drone incursions from North Korea.

Kepco Engineering & Construction, which is responsible for designing Korean nuclear power plants, has taken the initiative to advance related projects.

Terra Defense will leverage Korea's active electronically scanned array (ASEA) radar technology, which has a detection distance exceeding 10 km, to provide nuclear power plants with warnings of drone intrusions, designation of dangerous areas, evacuation launch and auxiliary defenses.

Write to So-Hyeon Kim at alpha@hankyung.com