Small drones have emerged as a crucial force in modern warfare, attacking armored vehicles and positions at the front lines and even targeting strategic bombers in the rear, as seen in the Russia-Ukraine war. A notable example is Ukraine's 'Spider Web Operation' last June, where drones were deployed to strike a Russian airbase. In response to the changing battlefield environment, South Korea has restructured its Drone Operations Command into the Defense Drone Headquarters, transitioning to a system that supports drone operations and power development across the military branches.
On November 2, the Ministry of National Defense held an establishment ceremony for the Defense Drone Headquarters in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, led by Deputy Minister Lee Doo-hee. The newly formed headquarters, established on November 1, aims to enhance the combat capabilities of each military branch in drone and anti-drone operations while spearheading combat development and technological innovation.
This restructuring follows the 'Defense Drone and Anti-Drone Development Policy' announced in June. The Ministry of National Defense plans to expand the military's use of drones and strengthen its response capabilities against drone threats by transferring the operational missions and capabilities of the former Drone Operations Command to each military branch, while transforming the command into a specialized organization that supports power development.
The core of this restructuring is the division of roles between operational execution and power development. Previously, each military branch handled surveillance and reconnaissance, while the Drone Operations Command focused on strikes. Moving forward, each branch will manage the entire process from surveillance and reconnaissance to strikes. Based on the capabilities transitioned to the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps operational units, each branch will organize and operate drone forces tailored to their unique missions and operational environments, overseeing operations and training.
The Ministry of National Defense aims to establish a foundation for all units to routinely operate drones, akin to personal weapons, broadening the use of drones beyond specific dedicated units.
Additionally, the Defense Drone Headquarters will analyze modern warfare trends and technological advancements to develop drone operational concepts, review and adjust necessary power requirements. It will also demonstrate the military applications of advanced technologies and drones in the Korean Peninsula's operational environment, supporting rapid power acquisition by reflecting the results in power development.
Key tasks include establishing a military certification system for commercial drones, standardizing components, and improving operational and management systems. The headquarters will connect advanced civilian technologies with military operational needs and expand technology exchanges to support the domestic drone industry ecosystem. The Ministry of National Defense plans to broaden the scope of drone utilization from reconnaissance and surveillance to attack, defense, and electronic warfare, integrating artificial intelligence and autonomy technologies into unmanned combat systems.
The organizational size will be reduced, with the operational, logistics, and combat support functions of the former command being scaled back, adjusting personnel from approximately 280 to about 100. The head of the headquarters will hold the same rank as the former Drone Operations Commander, and initially, the existing commander will perform the duties of the headquarters head. The operational organization will be structured around colonel-level managers and mid- to junior-grade officers, considering collaboration with the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
A key challenge will be effectively coordinating the dispersed capabilities across the military branches. It is essential to prevent the emergence of similar or redundant projects and delays in power acquisition as each branch independently secures drone capabilities.
The Ministry of National Defense plans for the Defense Drone Headquarters to participate in the existing requirements review process of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, providing input on redundancy and coordination. Rather than adding separate review procedures, the goal is to preemptively coordinate similar projects among the branches within the existing system and support the joint acquisition of common capabilities to reduce redundant investments.
Regarding concerns about overlapping responsibilities with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the Ministry maintains that the roles are distinct. The Defense Drone Headquarters will handle concept development, requirements coordination and integration, validation, and acquisition support, while the Defense Acquisition Program Administration will continue to manage the procurement processes, including determining project execution methods, purchasing, contracting, and quality certification for established requirements.
However, establishing clear authority and responsibility for coordinating differing demands among the military branches remains a challenge. The Ministry of National Defense is considering strengthening its policy control tower function through internal coordination and enhancement of drone and anti-drone policies and project functions.
Furthermore, the military plans to rapidly acquire over 20,000 expendable and low-cost drones, such as close-range reconnaissance drones and small suicide drones, and advance the operationalization of K-LUCAS for strategic strikes and neutralizing enemy air defense systems.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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