South Korea’s armed forces are set to acquire around 11,000 off-the-shelf drones for training by year-end, as reported by Yonhap News Agency, in a move to expand the use of affordable unmanned systems. The procurement process will begin this week, with bids due by late May and contract finalization anticipated in July after assessment procedures.
The program will emphasize platforms built with locally sourced components to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on external suppliers. It is part of the broader “500,000 drone warrior” initiative, which aims to train all conscripts in unmanned aerial systems during their mandatory service, improving military preparedness while also providing skills relevant to civilian industries.
South Korea is also pushing forward with indigenous drone development. In February, a partnership between Uniquest Corporation, Arion, and GuRu Wireless began work on a long-endurance ISR drone leveraging wireless power transmission and autonomous operation to overcome battery constraints.
Meanwhile, Korean Air continues to advance its modular “open drone” concept, enabling flexible payload and system integration depending on mission needs. The project is being developed in coordination with the Agency for Defense Development as part of wider efforts to standardize and expand unmanned system capabilities across the military.
