South Korea unveils major drone expansion plan to counter North Korea

South Korea announced plans on June 26 to significantly expand its drone and counter-drone capabilities as it seeks to strengthen its defences against North Korea and adapt to the changing nature of modern warfare.

The Defence Ministry said it plans to train 500,000 "drone warriors" and deploy tens of thousands of unmanned systems across frontline military units, Reuters reports. 

Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said the military initially planned to produce 110,000 drones by 2029 for use by the army, navy, air force and marine corps. However, the ministry later revised the target to about 60,000 drones, with around 11,000 scheduled for deployment in 2026.

According to the ministry, the systems will be distributed across all branches of the armed forces with the aim of making drones standard equipment for individual soldiers.

"Drones should no longer be equipment used by a limited number of units, but a universal combat tool," Ahn told a briefing, adding they should be used by troops like a "second personal weapon."

Ahn also said South Korea would rely entirely on domestically produced components rather than Chinese-made parts when manufacturing the drones, citing national security concerns.

The announcement comes as both North and South Korea accelerate the development of unmanned military systems, drawing lessons from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where drones have played an increasingly decisive role on the battlefield.

"Low-cost drones operated in large numbers are fundamentally changing the nature of warfare," Ahn said, warning that North Korea is also expanding its drone capabilities, posing growing threats to South Korean military and civilian infrastructure.

The modernisation plan also includes expanding counter-drone technologies such as laser weapons and high-power microwave systems. The military intends to decentralise drone operations, allowing each branch of the armed forces to conduct its own surveillance and strike missions instead of relying on a centralised command structure.

A senior defence official said South Korea also plans to procure more than 20,000 low-cost expendable drones while introducing artificial intelligence-based drone swarms and loitering munitions.

The ministry said it will revise procurement rules to accelerate the adoption of civilian drone technologies and support the development of a domestic drone industry by positioning the military as a major customer.

The restructuring follows political controversy surrounding drone operations under former President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration. The government of President Lee Jae Myung has dismantled the previous drone operations command and plans to establish a new organisation focused on policy, capability development and logistical support, while operational control will be transferred to individual military branches.

By Sabina Mammadli