{"id":13039,"date":"2026-11-02T05:29:06","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T05:29:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=13039"},"modified":"2026-11-02T05:29:06","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T05:29:06","slug":"korea-replaces-drone-command-with-smaller-specialized-headquarters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=13039","title":{"rendered":"Korea replaces drone command with smaller, specialized headquarters"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee inspects a reservist mobilization training exercise using advanced drones during a visit to the Army’s 72nd Infantry Division, May 19. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense <\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

South Korea has replaced its military drone operations command with a smaller headquarters focused on developing drone capabilities and speeding up procurement, shifting operational responsibilities to individual service branches.<\/p>\n

The Ministry of National Defense held a ceremony Monday in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, to mark the launch of the Defense Drone Headquarters, which officially began operations Sunday.<\/p>\n

The restructuring reduces the headquarters\u2019 staff from about 280 to 100, while increasing the proportion of personnel at the field-grade officer level or above from 17 percent to more than 50 percent. The new organization will focus on planning drone requirements, testing technology and helping the military acquire equipment more quickly.<\/p>\n

Unlike the former Drone Operations Command, which conducted missions using its own units, the new headquarters will not command combat operations. Its operational units and assets are being transferred to the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps.<\/p>\n

Under the previous arrangement, the services primarily used drones for surveillance and reconnaissance, while the command concentrated on strikes. Each service will now handle both reconnaissance and strike missions, with the Joint Chiefs of Staff overseeing their integration into broader military operations.<\/p>\n

\u201cDrone strikes need to be integrated with other capabilities, including artillery and aircraft,\u201d a defense ministry official said. \u201cIf drone operations are conducted separately, that integration becomes less effective.\u201d<\/p>\n

The official added that counter-drone operations also need to be integrated with existing air defense systems.<\/p>\n

The ministry wants drones to become standard equipment across the armed forces rather than a capability concentrated in one command.<\/p>\n

The new headquarters will draw on personnel experienced in drone operations, weapons planning and procurement. Its chief will retain the rank of major general, with the current drone operations commander serving as its first chief.<\/p>\n

Another key priority is addressing persistent delays in bringing new technology into service.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe see delays in fielding advanced capabilities such as drones and artificial intelligence as a serious problem,\u201d a defense ministry official said, citing procedures required under existing defense procurement law.<\/p>\n

\u201cExpendable drones require a different approach,\u201d the official said, referring to the need to acquire inexpensive equipment more quickly than conventional weapons.<\/p>\n

The ministry is pursuing separate legislation and a purchasing system modeled on the U.S. Blue UAS program to speed up the adoption of commercially developed drones.<\/p>\n

The restructuring also comes as the military seeks to respond to North Korea\u2019s expanding drone threat and apply lessons from the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

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Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee inspects a reservist mobilization training exercise using advanced drones during a visit to the Army’s 72nd Infantry Division, May 19. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense South Korea has replaced its military drone operations command with a smaller headquarters focused on developing drone capabilities and speeding up procurement, shifting operational…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13040,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_templately_pack_id":"","_templately_imported_at":"","_templately_source":"","_templately_import_session_id":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-korea"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t