SEOUL - South Korea's Army sees deploying unmanned surveillance planes as a priority in defense acquisition, a lawmaker said Monday.

Purchasing surveillance drones topped the list of the Army's annual arms acquisition plans for the second year, Song Young-sun of the minor opposition Future Hope Alliance said during a parliamentary audit, citing a military report.

Other items the Army seeks to purchase include attack and utility helicopters, K-2 main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, according to the two-term lawmaker.

Her remarks came as media reports say the United States wants to sell Global Hawk surveillance aircraft to South Korea, as officials here seek to boost border surveillance capabilities after 50 South Koreans were killed in two border incidents last year.