Securing Seoul’s Skies: Air Defense Brigade Celebrates 13th Year of Combat-Ready Excellence

The 1st Air Defense Brigade under the Capital Defense Command (CDC), the key defender of Seoul’s airspace, celebrated its 13th anniversary on Monday. The brigade continues to focus all its capabilities on combat readiness, practical training, and improving soldiers’ welfare.

Originally established on September 15, 1975, as the 10th Air Defense Artillery Group under the Capital Guard Command (the predecessor of the CDC), the brigade was tasked with air defense for Seoul. It was renamed the 10th Air Defense Group on July 1, 1991, and reestablished on December 1, 2011, by Army General Order No. 11-153, merging with the 1st Air Defense Brigade under the Third South Korean Army.

As the South Korean Army’s only air defense brigade, it maintains a high state of readiness to counter aerial provocations by adversaries. By enforcing strict no-fly zone controls, it successfully carries out its vital mission of close-range air defense for the Seoul metropolitan area. After North Korea’s drone provocations in December 2022, the brigade improved its response systems against small drones. It reinforced its capabilities by deploying thermal observation devices (TOD), local air defense radar, 30mm wheeled anti-aircraft guns (Cheonho), and laser air defense weapons to enhance operational efficiency.

The brigade verifies and hones its response capabilities through realistic air defense live-fire exercises and continues to advance its arsenal. Establishing a digital tactical discussion room identifies education and training tasks suited to the battlefield, focusing on drones and counter-drone operations. This includes integrating laser air defense systems and critical area counter-drone systems. In August, the brigade launched a dedicated task force to study future air defense advancements, focusing on drones and counter-drone research.

Efforts to improve teamwork among soldiers have also been prioritized. Due to the unit’s unique nature, 24-hour operational positions on prominent ridges and high-rise buildings can limit interaction between platoons and their company leadership. To address this, the brigade has hosted a program called “The Healing Day” for nine months since October last year. All companies in the brigade participated in group counseling, psychological evaluations, sessions for compliments and encouragement, and collecting suggestions and opinions. These programs aim to foster unity, harmony, and stress relief among personnel.

Brigade Commander Brigadier General Lee Man Hee stated, “As we mark our 13th anniversary, we remain unwavering in maintaining an airtight air defense posture around the clock with unchanging dedication. By responding swiftly to the evolving battlefield environment and upholding our pride as the final bastion of Seoul’s air defense, every soldier is determined to make this unit a source of pride for the nation.