South Korea is launching a sweeping initiative to ensure that every soldier in uniform learns to operate drones, with the Ministry of National Defense unveiling its “500,000 Drone Warriors” program on September 4.
The effort is designed to integrate unmanned systems into all Army units, making drone flight skills a standard part of military training.
At a ceremony in Wonju, Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek announced that all conscripts will gain practical experience with drones during their service.
“Through the effort to train 500,000 drone warriors, we must strengthen the military’s drone operating capability and create a foundation for every soldier to contribute to the industry after leaving service,” he said. He also urged the armed forces to “play a leading role in building and vitalizing the domestic drone industry ecosystem.”
According to the ministry, 20.5 billion won has been allocated in next year’s defense budget to fund the project. Of that, 19 billion won will be spent on acquiring more than 11,000 low-cost, expendable drones for training purposes. These drones, built with domestically produced components, will be distributed across the Army so that every squad has at least one for instruction.
Another 1.4 billion won will be invested in training a cadre of professional drone instructors. The ministry also plans to convert unused facilities at military bases into drone training zones, ensuring that soldiers can learn and practice flight skills inside their garrisons.
The Army’s 36th Infantry Division has been designated as the lead unit for the program. It will test the use of commercial drones in environments resembling combat conditions and give soldiers hands-on experience with the latest unmanned systems. The division will also help develop new tactics and doctrine for drone and counter-drone operations.
Officials describe the initiative as both a military and industrial strategy. By training every soldier to fly drones, South Korea aims to enhance battlefield readiness while creating a pipeline of skilled operators who can support the civilian drone industry after completing their service.