Army chief calls drones 'personal weapon' of future soldiers
The chief of staff of the Army described drones as a "personal weapon" that every soldier will be expected to operate, outlining an ambitious plan to embed unmanned systems across all combat units as the military adapts to a shrinking troop pool and shifting battlefield conditions. Speaking at a policy briefing Wednesday with defense reporters at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, Gen. Kim Gyu-ha placed drone deployment at the center of the Army's evolving force structure. “Drones should be seen as a personal weapon,” Kim said. “They are no longer limited to a single function, but can be used for surveillance, strike missions and sustained support, depending on how they are equipped and operated.” The remarks came as the Army detailed its plans to expand the use of training-purpose commercial drones across units. Officials said around 10,000 such drones will be introduced this year, with the number expected to rise to some 50,000 by 2029 — a level that would allow roughly one drone to be assigned per squad. Military officials stressed that the initiative is par
