South Korea reorganizes drone command to focus on policy, development

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense announced plans to reorganize the Drone Operations Command, established in response to North Korean drone incursions, into a new policy-focused entity called the Defense Drone Headquarters. The move aims to address criticisms regarding the command's operational structure and enhance the nation's drone warfare capabilities.

The Drone Operations Command was created in December 2022 following North Korea's violation of South Korean airspace with drones. However, it faced criticism for being an operational command unit that did not align with modern military organizational concepts. Critics argued that drones, like small arms, should be integrated into various units rather than centralized in a separate operational command.

The reorganized Defense Drone Headquarters will shift its primary focus from direct operations to policy development, concept development, and acquisition support for drone and counter-drone systems. Operational drone functions will be redistributed to the respective branches of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, allowing them to integrate drone capabilities into their surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions.

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We will improve the current system where some drone capabilities are operated centered around specific units, allowing each military branch to comprehensively perform surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike operations.

In addition to restructuring, the Defense Ministry outlined plans to accelerate the development of South Korean long-range suicide drones for strategic strikes and disabling enemy air defense systems, drawing parallels with systems like Russia's use of Iranian drones in Ukraine. The ministry also plans to rapidly acquire over 20,000 low-cost, expendable drones, including reconnaissance and small attack drones, and pursue next-generation drone technologies like AI-powered swarms.

Further initiatives include deploying counter-drone systems and small drone response capabilities to front-line areas and equipping units with proven commercial drone equipment. The ministry also intends to develop directed energy weapons, such as lasers and high-power microwaves, and low-cost interceptor drones to counter the threat posed by inexpensive enemy drones. To facilitate rapid acquisition of advanced capabilities, the ministry plans to pursue legislation for a flexible and swift procurement system, including testing and integrating civilian technologies and commercial drones into military use.

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We plan to rapidly promote the operationalization of South Korean long-range suicide drone capabilities for strategic strikes and disabling enemy air defense networks, in preparation for recent war patterns.