A vertical takeoff and landing drone for reconnaissance and surveillance on May 12, 2025, takes off during a naval exercise for the operational feasibility of commercial unmanned systems in peacetime in waters near Ilsan Port of Ulsan's Dong-gu District. (Republic of Korea Navy)

By Kim Seon Ah

The Ministry of National Defense is seeking to launch a system to make drones a standard combat tool across all units through a policy for military drones and counter-drones that includes the acquisition of over 20,000 drones and the training of 500,000 drone operators and strengthening of domestic drone capabilities.

The ministry on June 26 said the rapid expansion of drone and counter-drone capabilities, improvement of the procurement system and stimulation of the domestic drone ecosystem transition will help transform the military into a "strong force in unmanned combat systems."

The first step is the procurement of more than 20,000 low-cost, expendable drones including close-range reconnaissance models and small loitering munitions. The gradual introduction of next-generation drone systems will follow including the Korea-customized long-range loitering munitions, aka K-LUCAS, and artificial intelligence-based swarm drones.

Other tasks are to raise counter-drone capabilities and set up a fast-track procurement system that leverages civilian technology.

The acquisition of some 60,000 homegrown commercial drones for educational purposes will be used to train 500,000 drone operators, and a Korean-style certification system for drones will seek to foster the domestic drone industry and expand the basis for exports.

In addition, the drone operations command will be reorganized into the defense drone headquarters to boost drone capabilities across the armed services. The ministry said the goal is to make drones a standard combat asset available to every unit and accelerate the military's transition into a powerful force with unmanned combat systems.

"Drone operations will become standard operations for all military units instead of the exclusive domain of a specific few," Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-Back said. "Every service member will get the ability to use drones like a personal firearm."

sofiakim218@korea.kr