South Korea will buy twenty thousand drones to defend against the North

Published on June 27, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

South Korea has announced a massive defense plan: acquiring 20,000 low-cost military drones. The decision is based on lessons learned from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where drones have changed the battlefield. Additionally, the country will train 500,000 citizens as operators and deploy new anti-aircraft systems to counter threats from North Korea.

A squadron of small low-cost military drones launching in synchronized waves from a South Korean urban defense installation, operators monitoring multiple holographic tactical displays showing real-time drone feeds and flight paths, anti-air radar systems scanning mountainous terrain in background, drone swarm demonstrating coordinated attack formation against simulated North Korean artillery targets, cinematic photorealistic technical visualization, dramatic dusk lighting with glowing orange sky, ultra-detailed drone propellers and sensor payloads, motion blur from ascending drones, tactical command center with glowing screens, realistic military hardware textures

Defense technology: massive drones and civilian training 🚁

The plan bets on lightweight and inexpensive drones, capable of saturating enemy defenses. Locally manufactured models will be prioritized to boost South Korea's tech industry. The massive training of 500,000 civilians aims to create a reserve of operators ready to act in case of conflict. Anti-aircraft systems will also be reinforced with short-range sensors and laser cannons to shoot down swarms. The strategy combines volume and citizen preparedness.

500,000 new pilots: the neighbor who flies their drone to work 😅

Imagine your neighbor, the one on the seventh floor, is now a certified military drone operator. While he practices evasive maneuvers in the park, you just want him to stop flying over your terrace. With 500,000 trained citizens, the skies of Seoul could look like a drone convention. At least, if the North attacks, we'll know the mailman can also dodge missiles.