South Korea plans to train its entire military of nearly 500,000 personnel to operate drones. This initiative aims to give troops universal access to drone technology, improving capabilities against North Korea's larger military.
South Korea's military intends to train all members, approximately 500,000 personnel, to operate drones effectively. This is framed as a move to maintain a technological edge amid ongoing tensions with North Korea.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back emphasized in a briefing that drones should be seen as a 'universal combat tool' for troops, akin to handling personal weapons.
The training plan accompanies a strategy to equip units with a larger number of economical and expendable drones for various missions, including surveillance and strikes. There is also a focus on deploying counter-drone technologies such as lasers and microwave weapons.
The military's drone operations command will be reorganized to enhance collaboration with South Korean companies on the development of commercial drone technologies.
The South Korean military's initiative is partly inspired by recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where drones have been utilized effectively as a force multiplier.
This move is critical for South Korea, considering the substantial numerical gap against North Korea's active-duty forces compared to its own.
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South Korea plans to train its entire military of nearly 500,000 personnel to operate drones. This initiative aims to give troops universal access to drone technology, improving capabilities against North Korea's larger military.