Drone Operations Command to be reorganized into National Defense Drone Headquarters

Swarm drone and counter-drone capabilities to be expanded simultaneously

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek announces the "National Defense Drone and Counter-Drone Development Policy" at a press briefing at the Ministry of National Defense on Friday. [Yonhap]
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek announces the "National Defense Drone and Counter-Drone Development Policy" at a press briefing at the Ministry of National Defense on Friday. [Yonhap]

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense has launched a full-scale shift to an "unmanned combat system," centered on the mass procurement of expendable drones and a sweeping reorganization of military operations. Key elements include acquiring more than 20,000 low-cost drones, fielding the long-range loitering munition K-LUCAS, training 500,000 "drone warriors" and restructuring the Drone Operations Command.

The ministry unveiled its "National Defense Drone and Counter-Drone Development Policy" on Friday, announcing plans to transform drones from a tool of specialized units into a universal combat asset across all branches of the military. The move responds to the "low-cost, high-volume drone battlefield" demonstrated in the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek said the ministry would "expand drone capabilities across all forces so that every soldier can operate them like a second personal weapon."

The buildup focuses on speed and volume. The military plans to rapidly procure more than 20,000 low-cost, expendable systems — including short-range reconnaissance drones and small loitering munitions — while pressing ahead with the fielding of K-LUCAS to neutralize enemy air defenses. Next-generation capabilities such as AI-based swarm drones will be developed in parallel.

Counter-drone capabilities will be built up in stages. In the near term, response systems will be deployed in frontline areas, with proven commercial equipment introduced starting next year. Over the medium to long term, the military will pursue directed-energy weapons — including lasers and high-power microwave systems — as well as low-cost interceptor drones.

Personnel structures will also be overhauled. The ministry plans to introduce 60,000 training drones and comprehensively reform its education system with the goal of producing 500,000 drone-capable troops.

Strengthening the industrial ecosystem is part of the plan as well. Working with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the military will pursue standardization of key components such as batteries and lower barriers to entry for companies through the development and standardization of drone munitions. Export capacity will be expanded through opening military training grounds, broadening field testing and deepening international cooperation.

Organizationally, the military will shift from a Drone Operations Command-centered structure to a distributed model across each service branch. The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps will each integrate surveillance, reconnaissance and strike operations, while the Drone Operations Command headquarters will be reorganized into a National Defense Drone Headquarters.

Meanwhile, the ministry said Friday that Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro will visit South Korea on Saturday, with bilateral defense minister talks scheduled for Sunday at the ministry's Seoul headquarters.

Koizumi is expected to pay his respects at the Seoul National Cemetery during the visit. He is also set to meet Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Sunday.

It will be the first visit by a Japanese defense minister to South Korea for bilateral talks in 11 years, since 2015. Then-Defense Minister Nakatani Ken visited South Korea in September last year and held talks with Minister Ahn, but that trip was tied to his attendance at the 2025 Seoul Defense Dialogue, not a standalone bilateral visit.


rimsclub@heraldcorp.com