Army’s 36th Infantry Division Designated as First Drone Demonstration Unit
Ministry of National Defense Secures 20.5 Billion Won Budget
Building Drone Training Personnel and Infrastructure
The Ministry of National Defense will designate its first drone demonstration unit as part of its initiative to train 500,000 drone warriors. Through this program, all military personnel will acquire drone piloting qualifications and hands-on experience after enlistment, thereby strengthening combat capabilities. Furthermore, the military aims to foster mutual growth with the private sector and the drone industry.
On the morning of September 4, the Ministry of National Defense announced that Minister Shin Kyubeak visited the Army’s 36th Infantry Division and designated it as the first dedicated demonstration unit for small and counter-drone operations. Minister Shin stated, "The Army’s 36th Infantry Division has enhanced its drone operational capabilities through creative and diverse efforts, and we will actively apply this expertise to other units as well." He added, "Please serve as a central testbed so that the military can rapidly conduct technology demonstrations with advanced equipment incorporating artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies."
The Army’s 36th Infantry Division, newly designated as the first dedicated demonstration unit for small and counter-drone operations, has accumulated its own achievements and experience in this field. Last year, the division used drones to carry out security operations for the Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games. Additionally, the unit benefits from a diverse range of testing environments for small and counter-drone technologies, including both urban and mountainous areas.
The plan to train 500,000 drone warriors, spearheaded by Minister Shin and the Ministry of National Defense, focuses on two main strategies: cultivating drone piloting qualifications and hands-on experience for all military personnel, and fostering win-win cooperation between the military and the private sector. The goal is to enhance military combat capabilities by ensuring all personnel gain drone expertise during their service, while also providing opportunities for them to work as drone specialists in the civilian sector after discharge. Furthermore, the military will use domestically produced commercial drones with localized core components for training, laying the foundation for industrial revitalization and stable equipment supply, and thus promoting mutual growth between the military and industry.
To this end, the Ministry of National Defense has allocated approximately 20.5 billion won in next year’s government budget for the 500,000 drone warrior training initiative. With this budget, the ministry plans to acquire a large number of domestically produced small commercial drones for training, equipped with localized core components such as motors and batteries. It will also enhance specialized training capabilities and related infrastructure to ensure personnel can master drone technologies. In addition, the ministry is reviewing and promoting pilot projects for each branch of the military, targeting the second half of this year.
The ministry also plans to consider designating additional dedicated demonstration units suited to the mission types of each branch and unit, in order to verify the technologies of small and counter-drone equipment currently under development in the private sector. Minister Shin remarked, "In the late 1990s, President Kim Dae-jung’s informatization education for military personnel enabled a generation of young Koreans to become world-class digital talent, positioning Korea as an IT powerhouse." He continued, "Let us actively take on the challenge of training 500,000 drone warriors-not just as a change for the military, but as a catalyst for individual growth and a new engine of growth for domestic industry and the nation’s future."
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