South Korea to acquire 20,000 low-cost military drones

South Korea announced a significant plan on Friday to acquire 20,000 low-cost military drones, a strategic move aimed at bolstering defenses against North Korea. Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back cited lessons learned from recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, emphasizing the transformative impact of drones on modern battlefields.

"Recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East clearly demonstrate that drones have emerged as game changers on the battlefield," Ahn told reporters in Seoul. He highlighted that while high-cost weapon systems once dominated, the mass deployment of inexpensive drones is now reshaping warfare.

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Recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East clearly demonstrate that drones have emerged as game changers on the battlefield

South Korea, still technically at war with the North following the 1950-53 armistice, faces escalating threats from Pyongyang's developing unmanned aerial capabilities. Ahn noted that these threats extend beyond military facilities to critical national infrastructure and civilian targets.

The defense plan includes the rapid deployment of the domestically developed K-LUCAS system, similar to U.S. drone technology, and the acquisition of over 20,000 expendable drones, such as short-range reconnaissance units and loitering munitions. The military will also focus on developing artificial intelligence-driven drone swarms and deploying counter-drone systems along front-line areas starting next year. Long-term goals include integrating directed-energy weapons and low-cost interceptor drones.

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North Korea is also continuing to develop a wide range of unmanned aerial capabilities, posing growing threats not only to South Korean military facilities but also to critical national infrastructure and civilian targets