The Army said it will actively bring in attack drones, including loitering munitions, and sharply expand education and training so all service members can operate drones with ease.
Army Chief of Staff Kim Gyu-ha said at a policy meeting with reporters at Gyeryongdae on April 29 that he wants to define drones “as the same concept as personal weapons,” adding that troops should be able to use them “freely,” like the individual weapons every combatant carries.
Kim said drone operations seen in Russia and Ukraine and in Iran differ greatly from conditions on the Korean Peninsula, particularly in terrain, and stressed the need to develop drone doctrine and a force structure suited to South Korea.
He said drones will evolve beyond surveillance and reconnaissance to include strike missions and sustained support operations. He added the Army is working to field drones by echelon — from company level to operational command level — based on functions that match strategic and tactical objectives.
As part of its “training 500,000 drone warriors” policy, the Army plans to introduce about 11,000 commercial drones for training this year and about 50,000 by 2029, aiming to enable each squad to operate one training drone. The Army is also reported to be pursuing the introduction of “battalion-level loitering munitions.”
Kim said the Army has developed its “dronebot” combat system since 2018 under the “Army Tiger” policy, but acknowledged progress has partly stalled because it has not kept pace with recent technological advances. He said the Army will accelerate efforts to field drone capabilities.
Army Chief of Staff Kim Gyu-ha said at a policy meeting with reporters at Gyeryongdae on April 29 that he wants to define drones “as the same concept as personal weapons,” adding that troops should be able to use them “freely,” like the individual weapons every combatant carries.
Kim said drone operations seen in Russia and Ukraine and in Iran differ greatly from conditions on the Korean Peninsula, particularly in terrain, and stressed the need to develop drone doctrine and a force structure suited to South Korea.
He said drones will evolve beyond surveillance and reconnaissance to include strike missions and sustained support operations. He added the Army is working to field drones by echelon — from company level to operational command level — based on functions that match strategic and tactical objectives.
As part of its “training 500,000 drone warriors” policy, the Army plans to introduce about 11,000 commercial drones for training this year and about 50,000 by 2029, aiming to enable each squad to operate one training drone. The Army is also reported to be pursuing the introduction of “battalion-level loitering munitions.”
Kim said the Army has developed its “dronebot” combat system since 2018 under the “Army Tiger” policy, but acknowledged progress has partly stalled because it has not kept pace with recent technological advances. He said the Army will accelerate efforts to field drone capabilities.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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