South Korea will acquire more than 20,000 low-cost military drones as it expands its unmanned capabilities to counter North Korean threats and adapt to lessons from recent conflicts, according to AFP reporting.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have demonstrated how mass-produced, low-cost drones are reshaping modern warfare.
“Recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East clearly demonstrate that drones have emerged as game changers on the battlefield,” Ahn said.
The plan includes rapid deployment of the Korean Long-range Uncrewed Combat Attack System (K-LUCAS), a domestically developed loitering munition reportedly similar to the US LUCAS system.
South Korea will also procure more than 20,000 expendable drones, including short-range reconnaissance drones and loitering munitions, though officials did not disclose their source.
The military will develop AI-powered drone swarms while deploying counter-drone systems along frontline areas beginning next year.
Longer-term plans include fielding directed-energy weapons such as lasers and high-power microwave systems, alongside low-cost interceptor drones.
The Defense Ministry also reaffirmed its goal of training 500,000 “drone warriors” and will procure about 60,000 domestically produced commercial drones for training.
South Korea’s Drone Operations Command, established in 2023, will be reorganized into a new Defense Drone Headquarters.
