South Korean Army Eyes Drones as Personal Weapons for Future Troops

The South Korean Army is embarking on a transformative initiative to integrate drones as personal weapons for its soldiers, a vision articulated by Army Chief of Staff General Kim Gyu-ha. This forward-thinking strategy positions drones as essential tools, akin to personal firearms, that combat personnel must be proficient in operating across various battlefield roles, including surveillance, reconnaissance, strikes, and sustainment support.

“

Drones should be considered personal firearms in the future.

This ambitious plan is backed by a significant investment, with the Ministry of National Defense earmarking approximately 25 billion won (S$21.6 million) for 2026 to train what it calls "500,000 drone warriors." The Army intends to acquire more than 50,000 training drones by 2029, ensuring that each squad has access to at least one drone. The immediate step involves introducing around 10,000 commercial training drones this year.

Beyond enhancing combat readiness through widespread drone literacy, the initiative aims to bolster South Korea's domestic drone industry. By becoming a major consumer of locally produced systems and components, the military is poised to stimulate innovation and growth in this high-tech sector. The Army plans a comprehensive integration of drone operations across all levels of command, from company units to operational commands, gradually introducing mission-specific drones for reconnaissance and attack, with the ultimate goal of consolidating multiple functions into single platforms.

“

There are drones for surveillance, reconnaissance, strikes and sustainment support, and combat personnel must be able to use them freely.

General Kim acknowledged past stagnation in the military's drone technology progress but emphasized that preparations have been underway since 2018 through the "dronebot policy." He expressed confidence that a period of significant innovation is approaching, with tangible results expected between 2028 and 2030. This vision aligns with the Army Tiger initiative, launched in 2018 to address the challenges of a shrinking military personnel pool by synergizing drones, robots, AI, and other advanced technologies. Major-General Lee Kyung-jin further detailed the multi-faceted approach, encompassing force development, education, doctrine, and maintenance, underscoring the early but determined phase of this technological revolution.

“

It is true that our military’s technological progress on drones has been stagnant. But we have been preparing since 2018 through the dronebot policy, and the period of innovation is approaching. We expect visible results around 2028 to 2030.