On the Defense Drone Headquarters launched in Pocheon on 2 November, the Korea JoongAng Daily reports a staff of about 100 excluding operational personnel, down from 280 at the former Drone Operations Command, with more than half field-grade officers. It is a two-star billet, led in the interim by Brig. Gen. Kim Deuk-bong, the former command's commander, until general-officer appointments later this year. Reporting directly to the defence minister, it handles standardisation, operating concepts, acquisition support and certification, and will pursue a standard modelled on the US Blue UAS programme that excludes Chinese components and localise batteries, motors and data links, though without stated timelines or figures. Overlap with DAPA's remit has been noted.
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AI & Security Observatory（2026-11-02）「韓国の国防ドローン本部は約100人体制で発足 Blue UAS型の認証と電池・モーターの国産化を担務に」『AI & Security Observatory』、第1.0版、最終更新2026-11-05。https://ai-security-observatory.org/ja/brief/brief-20261105-12/
AI & Security Observatory (2026-11-02). South Korea's Defense Drone Headquarters starts with about 100 staff, down from the former command's 280, tasked with Blue UAS-style certification and localising batteries and motors . AI & Security Observatory, version 1.0. Updated 2026-11-05. https://ai-security-observatory.org/en/brief/brief-20261105-12/
Version 1.0 · Publication date 2 Nov 2026 · Updated 5 Nov 2026
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