Military to seek to acquire 11,000 commercial drones for training this year

The military will seek to acquire some 11,000 commercial drones for training by the end of this year, the defense ministry said Tuesday, as part of efforts to better utilize the cost-effective weapon system. Under the plan, the ministry plans to open the bid this week for potential manufacturers and accept proposals at the end of May. It aims to sign the final contract in July following relevant verification procedures, the ministry said. The plan is part of the ministry's "500,000 drone warrior" project, aimed at helping all conscripts familiarize themselves with drones while enhancing the military's combat power. Given that the ministry aims to purchase drones equipped with key parts built with homegrown technology, the ministry anticipated the project to also help nurture the domestic drone manufacturing industry. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back proposed the project in September, saying such a project will not only strengthen the military's drone operation capabilities but also help troops work in relevant industries after their service.

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