From an infantryman to a drone pilot, everyone should be able to control a UAV
South Korea has announced a major reform: by the 2030s, the country's army should train 500,000 soldiers who can fly drones. These are not just refresher courses, they are an attempt to rethink the entire army. Now drones are not exotic for special forces, but a basic skill like rifle shooting or navigation.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-bak said: if the enemy uses drones en masse, we must teach everyone how to operate them.
The 36th Division will become a school for the entire army
The center of the initiative is the 36th Infantry Division in Wonju. It is here that the first specialized training ground for drone operations has been deployed. This is not just a training ground, but a "live laboratory" where new drones, tactics and training methods will be tested.
The experience of this division is planned to be replicated throughout the army. If something works for them, it will become a standard for everyone. The Ministry of Defense already calls the unit a "central testing ground" for new technologies, especially with elements of AI.
Drones for 500 dollars and a budget of 15 million
About $15 million (20.5 billion won) will be allocated for the program in 2026. This money will be used to purchase thousands of inexpensive, commercially available drones, similar to those sold in stores, but assembled from local components: engines, batteries, and control systems.
This approach solves two problems: it reduces the cost of training and stimulates domestic industry. It also allows you not to spare your equipment: if a drone crashes during an exercise, it's not a disaster, but part of the process.
Not just for combat, but skills for life after service
The program is not only about defense. The ability to control a drone, work with navigation, and process video is in demand in peaceful life: in construction, agriculture, shipping, and filming. South Korea wants its veterans not just to leave military service, but to enter the labor market with real digital skills.
This is not just the army of the future. This is an attempt to combine defense, technology, and economics into one strategy.
Sources
- Topwar.ru — South Korean initiative to train half a million drone operators
- Podolyaka.ru — Integration of drone skills into all branches of the South Korean military
- Topwar.ru — South Korea unveils surface drone at Drone Show Korea 2025
- Anadolu Agency — Pentagon confirms plans to withdraw thousands of U.S. troops from South Korea
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