South Korea unveils plan to equip every soldier with personal drone

South Korea on Friday unveiled a sweeping plan to equip every soldier with a personal drone, training half a million troops in their operation as part of a broader push to counter North Korea’s growing military threats. Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced the initiative, which includes the acquisition of more than 100,000 drones over the next three years, marking one of the most ambitious modernisation efforts in Seoul’s recent military history.

The programme is designed to offset shrinking recruitment pools and enhance aerial defensive capabilities along the heavily fortified border. “We are entering a new era of asymmetric warfare where drones will play a decisive role,” Ahn told reporters in Seoul. The ministry plans to integrate the drones into frontline units, enabling real-time reconnaissance, precision strikes, and rapid resupply in contested areas. Training will begin immediately, with the first cohort of 50,000 drone operators expected to complete certification by the end of 2026.

The move comes amid escalating provocations from Pyongyang. On Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw tests of upgraded multiple rocket launchers and tactical ballistic missiles, declaring the displays a demonstration of “great technological progress.” State media framed the tests as part of a broader drive to build a “deadly and destructive offensive posture,” underscoring the regime’s commitment to modernising its arsenal despite international sanctions.

South Korea’s drone initiative also reflects a strategic pivot toward autonomous systems to compensate for demographic decline. With military recruitment shrinking, officials argue that mass-produced, low-cost drones offer a cost-effective way to extend battlefield reach without expanding troop numbers. Seoul has already begun procuring low-cost models, with plans to field over 20,000 units in the first phase of deployment.

Analysts see the programme as a direct response to North Korea’s expanding drone and counter-drone capabilities. Earlier this month, Pyongyang unveiled a new domestically produced attack drone, the *Hyonmu-5*, capable of striking targets up to 200 kilometres away. South Korea’s defence ministry has not disclosed whether its drones will include offensive variants, but the scale of the training programme suggests a dual focus on both surveillance and strike missions.

The announcement follows a series of high-profile military drills in both Koreas, including live-fire exercises along the Demilitarized Zone. Observers warn that the drone arms race risks further destabilising the peninsula, particularly as both sides accelerate their technological investments. “This is no longer about deterrence—it’s about dominance in the skies,” said Lee Sang-hyun, a senior researcher at the Seoul-based Sejong Institute. “The question now is how quickly Seoul can operationalise these systems before Pyongyang catches up.”