DeepMind Partners with Army 52nd Division Torch Brigade to Train 'Drone Warriors'

DeepMind Platform (hereinafter DeepMind) announced on the 2nd that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Republic of Korea Army's 52nd Division Torch Brigade and is promoting a large-scale training project aimed at cultivating 'drone warriors.'

A DeepMind official stated, "We will prepare various types of drones ranging from basic drones suitable for small unit operations to comprehensive tactical drones to provide comprehensive training for 'drone warriors.'

This agreement focuses on systematically conducting drone combat training for squad-level soldiers and fostering close-range combat and various drone tactical operation skills.

The training course consists of three stages: basic, advanced, and practical. Drone warriors will practice various tactics such as reconnaissance, disruption, multiple attacks, ambush, and supply. The company explained, "The core goal is to cultivate warriors proficient in drone operation in close combat situations."

To this end, DeepMind plans to collaborate with the unit to establish a training system that allows military personnel to master small drone operation from the basics and to strengthen education by securing instructors and equipment suitable for squad-level training.

Currently, South Korea's military drone forces mainly focus on fixed-wing precision drones for large-scale unit (division and corps level) operations, and there are no practical deployment cases of close-range combat drones usable by small units, highlighting limitations in tactical operation.

On the other hand, during the Ukraine-Russia war, cases have been confirmed where low-cost drones priced between 1 to 2 million KRW have shot down tanks and helicopters worth tens of billions of KRW, drawing more attention to the tactical value of small drones.

DeepMind holds the position that supplying small suicide and bomb-dropping drones weighing around 5kg to reservists, rather than expensive fixed-wing drones, can significantly enhance South Korea's defense capabilities.

A DeepMind official said, "Drone technology is changing the paradigm of modern warfare," and added, "Through the drone warrior training program, we will contribute to raising the military power by enhancing the ROK Army's drone piloting and operational capabilities."