South Korean Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Gyu ha called for drone warfare integration on Wednesday. He said drones should become as common as personal firearms for troops. Kim made these remarks during a policy briefing at Army headquarters in Gyeryongdae. The military aims to train personnel to operate unmanned systems across all battlefield roles.
This effort includes surveillance, reconnaissance, strikes, and sustainment support. Kim stated that combat personnel must be able to use drones freely. The Defense Ministry pushes to train what it calls 500,000 drone warriors. Service members will acquire basic drone operating skills and practical experience. Consequently, the ministry has newly earmarked about 25 billion won for this initiative.
The Army aims to introduce more than 50,000 training drones by 2029. This number would provide one drone for each squad in the service. Around 10,000 commercial training drones should arrive this year. The broader goal improves combat readiness by expanding drone literacy. Additionally, the military will support the domestic drone industry as a key demand source.
The Army plans to incorporate drones across all echelons from company level to brigades. Current drone use centers largely on perimeter security and training. However, the service aims to field mission specific drones gradually. These will include reconnaissance, strikes, and self destruct missions. Multiple functions will eventually integrate into a single platform.
Kim said the Army began laying groundwork through its TIGER initiative. This modernization program started in 2018 to prepare for shrinking military manpower. It combines drones, robots, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technologies. The Army established concepts such as dronebots and the Warrior Platform. Kim said the Army expects such systems to become feasible between 2028 and 2032.
Maj. Gen. Lee Kyung jin heads the Army’s policy planning division. He said the service prepares on multiple fronts for the drone push. These include force development, education, training, doctrine, and organizational structure. The Army does not plan to create a separate drone branch. Instead, soldiers across existing branches will gain specialized qualifications.
The Army has operated regional drone education centers since August last year. These facilities build skills in operation, maintenance, and production. They also teach the use of 3D printers for drone components. The US 2nd Infantry Division recently visited to learn about Korea’s systems. Both forces are working to align their drone operations and related systems.
The briefing also touched on reducing troops along the general outpost line. The military will use AI based surveillance systems for border security. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu back said GOP troops will drop from 22,000 to 6,000. Kim said an AI based system can recognize objects and distinguish hostile forces. The Army expects to establish pilot units for this advanced model by 2027. Gradual introduction across the service will follow thereafter. Civilian participation in noncombat areas and administrative automation will also support troop shortages. Ultimately, soldiers can focus more on combat missions while drones handle other tasks.
