South Korea to train 500,000 troops as drone operators

South Korea plans to train around 500,000 military personnel to operate drones as part of a major shift in its defense strategy, The Guardian reported.

According to Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, soldiers should be able to use drones «like a second personal firearm» these days. The program will cover personnel across the army, navy, air force and marines.

The country’s defense ministry noted that ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have demonstrated that drones have become a defining feature of modern warfare.

To support the initiative, South Korea plans to procure around 11,000 commercial drones for training purposes by the end of this year. Seoul is also looking to accelerate development of its domestically produced K-Lucas long-range loitering munition and expand counter-drone capabilities, including laser and high-power microwave weapons.

South Korean military officials also warned that North Korea is actively building up its drone capabilities, with Russia allegedly granting Pyongyang access to battlefield data gathered during the war in Ukraine.