Seoul: The military will receive homegrown bomb disposal robots from a major defense firm starting at the end of this year, the state arms procurement agency said Monday, in a move expected to enhance troop safety when fully deployed.

According to Yonhap News Agency, under a 270 billion-won (US$192 million) deal, the explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) devices, developed by defense firm Hanwha Aerospace Co., are expected to be fully deployed across the military by the end of 2027, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

In addition to detecting and defusing bombs, the robots are designed to conduct a range of missions, such as carrying out surveillance activities in high-risk areas, building routes in the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, and conducting searches of underground facilities.

"When the homegrown EDO robots are deployed to military units, they will not only enhance the military's operational capabilities, but more effectively ensure the safety of troops," a DAPA official said.