South Korea Aims to Train Every Soldier as a Drone Operator

South Korea plans to train all of its nearly 500,000 troops to operate drones as naturally as they handle personal firearms, aiming to make drones a 'universal combat tool' and a soldier's 'second personal weapon.' The initiative, announced by Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, is part of broader military reforms that include equipping units with cheap, expendable drones for surveillance and strikes, as well as deploying counter-drone lasers and microwaves. Meanwhile, the former drone operations command will be restructured to focus on collaborating with South Korean industry to develop and procure commercial drone technology. The defense minister cited recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East as key inspirations for these drone-centric reforms.