Korea replaces drone command with smaller, specialized headquarters

South Korea’s Defense Drone Headquarters began operations Sunday and was formally launched Monday in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, replacing the Drone Operations Command with a smaller organization focused on developing drone capabilities and speeding procurement. The headquarters has 100 staff, down from about 280, and will not command combat operations; operational units and assets are being transferred to the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps. The ministry is pursuing separate legislation and a purchasing system modeled on the U.S. Blue UAS program to accelerate the adoption of commercially developed drones.

The share of personnel at field-grade officer level or above will rise from 17 percent to more than 50 percent.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff will oversee the integration of each service’s reconnaissance and strike missions into broader military operations.

The headquarters will draw on personnel experienced in drone operations, weapons planning and procurement, and its chief will retain the rank of major general.

A defense ministry official said existing procurement-law procedures contribute to delays in fielding advanced capabilities such as drones and artificial intelligence.

Published Nov 2, 2026 11:01 am KST

Updated Nov 2, 2026 11:04 am KST

New unit to speed up drone procurement as services take over operations

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 responsibilities to individual service branches.

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.

The restructuring reduces the headquarters’ 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.

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.

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.

“Drone strikes need to be integrated with other capabilities, including artillery and aircraft,” a defense ministry official said. “If drone operations are conducted separately, that integration becomes less effective.”

The official added that counter-drone operations also need to be integrated with existing air defense systems.

The ministry wants drones to become standard equipment across the armed forces rather than a capability concentrated in one command.

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.

Another key priority is addressing persistent delays in bringing new technology into service.

“We see delays in fielding advanced capabilities such as drones and artificial intelligence as a serious problem,” a defense ministry official said, citing procedures required under existing defense procurement law.

“Expendable drones require a different approach,” the official said, referring to the need to acquire inexpensive equipment more quickly than conventional weapons.

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.

The restructuring also comes as the military seeks to respond to North Korea’s expanding drone threat and apply lessons from the war in Ukraine.

韩国国防无人机总部于周日开始运作，并于周一在京畿道抱川市正式成立。该总部取代了原有的无人机作战司令部，规模缩小，专注于发展无人机能力并加快采购速度。总部现有100名员工，较之前的约280名有所减少，且不负责指挥作战行动；作战部队和装备将移交给陆军、空军和海军陆战队。韩国国防部正在推进相关立法，并计划建立一套以美国“蓝色无人机系统”（Blue UAS）项目为蓝本的采购体系，以加速商用无人机的普及应用。

校级军官及以上级别人员的比例将从 17% 上升到 50% 以上。

参谋长联席会议将负责监督各军种侦察和打击任务融入更广泛的军事行动。

总部将吸纳在无人机操作、武器规划和采购方面经验丰富的人员，其负责人将保留少将军衔。

国防部一名官员表示，现行的采购法律程序导致无人机和人工智能等先进能力的部署出现延误。

发布于2026年11月2日上午11:01（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年11月2日上午11:04（韩国标准时间）

新部门将加快无人机采购速度，服务业将接管运营。

5月19日，韩国国防部副部长李斗熙视察陆军第72步兵师，并观摩了使用先进无人机进行的预备役人员动员训练演习。图片由韩国国防部提供。

韩国已将其原有的军事无人机作战司令部改组为一个规模较小的总部，专注于发展无人机能力和加快采购速度，并将作战职责转移给各个军种。

韩国国防部周一在京畿道抱川市举行仪式，庆祝国防无人机总部正式成立，该总部于周日开始运作。

此次重组将总部人员从约280人减少到100人，同时将校级及以上军官的比例从17%提高到50%以上。新机构将专注于无人机需求规划、技术测试以及帮助军方更快地采购装备。

与此前使用自有部队执行任务的无人机作战司令部不同，新的司令部将不再指挥作战行动。其作战部队和资产将移交给陆军、空军和海军陆战队。

在之前的安排下，各军种主要使用无人机进行监视和侦察，而联合司令部则专注于打击行动。现在，各军种将同时承担侦察和打击任务，参谋长联席会议将负责监督其与更广泛的军事行动的整合。

一位国防部官员表示：“无人机打击需要与其他作战能力相结合，包括火炮和飞机。如果无人机行动单独进行，这种结合的效果就会大打折扣。”

该官员补充说，反无人机行动也需要与现有的防空系统相结合。

该部希望无人机成为全军的标准装备，而不是集中在一个指挥部的能力。

新总部将吸纳在无人机作战、武器规划和采购方面经验丰富的人员。其负责人将保留少将军衔，现任无人机作战指挥官将担任首任负责人。

另一项重点工作是解决新技术投入使用过程中长期存在的延误问题。

国防部一名官员表示：“我们认为，无人机和人工智能等先进能力的部署延误是一个严重的问题。”他援引了现行国防采购法规定的程序。

“一次性无人机需要不同的方法，”这位官员说，他指的是需要比传统武器更快地获得廉价设备。

该部正在推进单独的立法和采购系统，该系统以美国的蓝色无人机系统计划为蓝本，以加快商用无人机的普及应用。

此次重组也正值军方寻求应对朝鲜日益增长的无人机威胁，并吸取乌克兰战争的教训之际。