From Ammunition to AI: How South Korea’s Defense Technology Will Help Secure the World

The South Korean defense industry, which had a modest start half a century ago with the export of M1 rifle ammunition to the Philippines, is hitting the jackpot. Last year, it achieved a record export performance of $17.3 billion; this year, it is smoothly sailing towards a target of $20 billion. Strengthening the domestic defense industry’s competitiveness contributes to maintaining world peace by equipping the nation with the power and technology to fight on its own. We examined how our defense industry performs with high-performance weapon systems and technological competitiveness in the global market.

◇The epitome of cutting-edge technology ‘Missiles and Drones’ (LIG Nex1 and Poongsan)

In January of last year, the export of the domestic ground-to-air missile interceptor system ‘Cheongung-II’ worth $3.5 billion marked a new milestone in the history of K-defense. Cheongung-II, a weapon system being mass-produced by LIG Nex1 and developed under the supervision of the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), is attracting interest from many countries, including those in the Middle East. It is a guided weapon system that applies state-of-the-art technology, which has only been successfully developed in a few countries worldwide. It is a medium-range and medium-altitude ground-to-air interceptor system designed with domestic technology to respond to ballistic missile and aircraft attacks simultaneously. In particular, Cheongung-II applies combat control technology and ballistic missile tracking technology of multifunction radar for ballistic missile interception, and the guided missile is equipped with the world’s top-level technologies such as forward wing control shape design and control technology and continuous thrust lateral thrust for quick response time. It also invests in developing the ‘Korean Satellite Navigation System (KPS).’ The KPS project will start full-scale development next year, with a total project cost of 3.7234 trillion won ($3.1 billion) to be invested over 14 years until 2035. The target for the start of service is 2035.

Poongsan, often referred to as a ‘traditional defense powerhouse,’ showcases various combat drones and systems in preparation for future warfare beyond ammunition. The ‘ammunition-dropping drone’ carries grenades and drops them on enemy bases. It is small enough to be divided into 3-4 modules and brought in a backpack, but it has a lethal radius of 25 meters, making it highly tactically useful. Unlike a conventional propeller-type helicopter drone, the coaxial rotor drone has a cylindrical body with two propellers. Because the propellers on the cylindrical body rotate in opposite directions, they can withstand wind better and make much less noise. The cylindrical body module can be easily replaced, allowing it to be used not only for surveillance and reconnaissance but also for ammunition dropping and fragmentation high-explosive purposes.

◇Evolution to electrified unmanned platforms ‘Tanks and Warships’ (Hyundai Rotem and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries)

Hyundai Rotem is recognized for its top-tier competitiveness and technology in the global market as a leading player in ground weapon systems. It is expanding its portfolio of various ground weapon systems, including the latest K2 tank and armored vehicle product lines and wheeled armored vehicles. While strengthening the competitiveness of existing ground weapons systems such as tanks and armored vehicles, it is laying the groundwork for continuous growth in the global market with products optimized for the construction of unmanned and automated systems (MUM-T) based on advanced technology research and development based on the fourth industrial revolution, such as unmanned, automated, and electrified systems. The multi-purpose unmanned vehicle is an electrified unmanned platform developed by Hyundai Rotem. It can be equipped with various equipment and operated according to the mission, such as search, surveillance, supply, and firepower support. It is also strengthening its portfolio of tanks and armored vehicles centered on the new 30-ton wheeled vehicle currently under development.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is leading the future of South Korean naval defense and solidifying its reputation as a shipbuilding powerhouse. The Navy’s next-generation Aegis destroyer (KDX-Ⅲ Batch-Ⅱ), ‘King Jeongjo,’ successfully launched in July, is 170 meters long, 21 meters wide, and 8,200 tons in size. After a trial evaluation period, it is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy at the end of 2024. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is recognized for its advanced technology in Aegis destroyers. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has the most shipbuilding records in Korea. Starting with the development of Korea’s first warship, the ‘Ulsan,’ in 1975, it has proven its competitiveness in the defense sector by building a total of 102 state-of-the-art ships, including 5 Aegis destroyers, 3 KDX-Ⅱ destroyers, 12 escort ships, 6 patrol ships, 9 submarines, 31 patrol and rescue ships, 7 support ships, and 14 export ships.

◇Leading the future battlefield of space and aviation (Hanwha Aerospace, Korea Hiwave, and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI))

Hanwha Aerospace secured the foundation to grow into a ‘global first-class innovation’ company that encompasses aviation, space, and defense by merging Hanwha Defense, a subsidiary, in April this year, following Hanwha Defense last November. Hanwha Aerospace not only plays the role of a total manufacturing supervisor for the Nuri high-altitude project in Korea but also positions itself at the center of national projects, including producing the main engine of the Air Force’s primary aircraft. It is actively pursuing overseas market strategies to strengthen its position in the defense export market. The K9 self-propelled gun and Cheonmu multiple launch guided weapon export contract between Poland and Hanwha Aerospace exceeds 8 trillion won ($6.7 billion). In particular, the K9 self-propelled gun is operated by nine countries worldwide, including Korea.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is focusing on developing the Korean Fighter (KF-21) project. The Korean Fighter (KF-21) development project is a project to develop the latest multi-purpose fighter that will replace the F-4 and F-5 fighters that have been long operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force and will be upgraded to enhance the power of the Korean Air Force and meet future battlefields, starting with the system development contract in 2015. In addition, the FA-50, a domestic supersonic fighter made by KAI, is equipped with a tactical data link (Link), precision-guided bombs, self-protection equipment, and nighttime mission capabilities, and is performing local air defense and close air support missions in the Korean Air Force. After exporting to Indonesia, Iraq, the Philippines, and Thailand, it has recently been exported to Malaysia and Poland, drawing attention as a representative product of K-defense. More than 300 aircraft from the T-50 series developed by KAI, including the FA-50, have been exported to eight countries and are in operation worldwide.

Korea Hiwave supplies system companies with key parts such as combustion chambers and nozzles for various guided weapons, including Hyunmoo. It also plays a vital role in the space field, producing payload fairings and first and second-stage forward bodies for ‘Nuriho,’ the first Korean space launch vehicle, following ‘Naro.’ In particular, many related agencies are interested in Korea Hiwave’s ultra-lightweight, cylindrical lattice structure. This net-like structure using carbon fiber composite material is strong against bending, compression, and twisting. It can be applied to various fields, such as connection parts of space launch vehicles and guided weapons, aircraft bodies, and satellite structures. It is also working hard to develop ‘military unmanned aircraft body structures,’ participating in developing all systems where composites are applied. It also strengthens efforts to enter overseas businesses, such as promoting business cooperation for parts supply with the U.S. unmanned aircraft specialist AV (Aero Vironment).

◇Communication Network (Hanwha Systems and Huneed Technologies)

Hanwha Systems is making a mark in space’s aerospace and defense sectors with surveillance and reconnaissance, command and control, communication, and marine systems technologies accumulated over the years. A representative example is the ultra-small synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, which becomes the ‘eye of space.’ Hanwha Systems is the only domestic company to have successfully domesticated an ultra-small SAR satellite with a performance of 100 kg and 1 m. It is currently developing a SAR satellite capable of a 0.5 m resolution. Hanwha Systems is the only domestic company that owns all the core equipment of satellites, such as electronic optics, infrared, and SAR payloads. Hanwha Systems is also participating in the project to manufacture the engineering model (EM) of the ultra-small infrared (IR) sensor, supervised by the Agency for Defense Development. The goal is to develop a dual-band ultra-small IR satellite payload that can monitor the security threats in South Korea in real-time. It also promotes a project to secure a military network using low-orbit civilian satellites. If low-orbit communication satellites are used, uninterrupted communication is possible, even if the ground communication network is destroyed, and the battlefield situation can be provided in real-time.