South Korea has unveiled a sweeping plan to rapidly expand its drone and counter-drone capabilities to counter threats from North Korea. Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back stated that drones have emerged as game changers on the battlefield, citing lessons learned from recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The military intends to train 500,000 drone warriors, with the goal that all soldiers across all branches are trained as operators. Minister Ahn emphasized that drones should be a universal combat tool, suggesting that soldiers should be able to use them like a second personal firearm.
To support this expansion, South Korea plans to acquire more than 20,000 low-cost expendable drones and produce 110,000 drones by 2029 for distribution across units. The country eventually aims to equip every soldier with their own personal drone.
This strategic shift toward self-guided weapons is intended to shore up defensive capabilities as the military faces a shrinking number of active personnel and young recruits.