South Korea to acquire 20,000 military drones amid North Korea threat

South Korea unveiled a significant plan on June 26 to acquire 20,000 military drones, a strategic move aimed at bolstering its defenses against North Korea's expanding unmanned aerial capabilities. This initiative draws heavily on lessons learned from recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where the mass deployment of affordable drones has fundamentally altered warfare.

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The recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East clearly demonstrate that drones have become decisive weapons on the battlefield.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back emphasized the changing landscape of military technology, stating, "Recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East clearly demonstrate that drones have become decisive weapons on the battlefield." He noted that while expensive weapon systems once dominated, the proliferation of low-cost drones is transforming conflict dynamics.

The decision is also a direct response to North Korea's continuous development of various unmanned aerial systems, which pose increasing threats not only to South Korean military installations but also to critical national infrastructure and civilian targets. South Korea remains technically at war with the North, as the 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

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North Korea continues to develop a wide range of unmanned aerial capabilities, posing increasing threats not only to South Korean military installations but also to critical national infrastructure and civilian targets.

To counter these threats, the South Korean government intends to rapidly deploy its domestically developed K-LUCAS (Korean Long-range Unmanned Combat Aerial System), a munition reportedly reverse-engineered from Iranian drones. Additionally, the plan includes acquiring over 20,000 disposable, low-cost drones, likely for reconnaissance and close-range attack missions, often referred to as loitering munitions.

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The government will work to rapidly deploy its Korean long-range unmanned combat aerial system (K-LUCAS).

Beyond immediate acquisitions, South Korea is investing in future drone technology, including AI-piloted drone swarms and directed-energy weapons like lasers and high-power microwave systems. Anti-drone systems will be deployed along border areas starting next year. The Ministry of National Defense also aims to train 500,000 "drone warriors," equipping them with commercial drones to operate as a "second individual weapon." The South Korean Drone Operations Command, established in 2023, will be reorganized to support these ambitious goals.

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500,000 'drone warriors'