The importance of drones in the defense industry is rapidly rising as their capability to change the battlefield dynamics has been proven in modern warfare, including the war between Ukraine and Russia. Governments and defense corporations around the world are accelerating the development of drones for various purposes such as reconnaissance, attack, and electronic warfare, while new drones incorporating autonomous flying and artificial intelligence (AI) technology are actively being developed in the private sector.
South Korea will invest 200 billion won in research and development (R&D) this year to develop core technologies for advanced defense. The focus will be on promoting self-reliance in materials, parts, and equipment (soobu-jang) such as drones and aircraft engine materials. The government launched the "Advanced Military-Civilian Cooperation Council," which will play a role in facilitating information exchange between the military and industry.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 26th that it will hold a launch ceremony for the "Advanced Military-Civilian Cooperation Council" at Bexco in Busan, where the "2025 Drone Show Korea" will take place, with the participation of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and academia and research institutes.
At the launch ceremony, participants included co-chair Lee Seung-ryul, head of the Industrial Policy Office at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, along with planning and management staff from the Army (Major General Oh Hyuk-jae), Navy (Major General Kim Tae-hoon), and Air Force (Major General Lee Tae-kyu), as well as 25 commissioners from academia and research institutes. They will discuss operational strategies for the council and ways to build a sustainable defense export and ecosystem.
The Army, Navy, Air Force, Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, and Military-Civilian Cooperation Promotion Agency will also sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to activate military-civilian cooperation based on advanced technology.
A Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy official noted, "As the future battlefield environment changes, the role of the private sector, equipped with advanced technologies such as AI and drones, is expanding in defense." The official explained that the council was launched as a platform to promote technology convergence between the military and civilian sectors.
The council plans to focus on enhancing information exchange between the military and civilian sectors, identifying innovative R&D projects based on military demand, and promoting technology transfer and commercialization between the two sectors. To this end, the council plans to operate three subcommittees: land, sea, and air.
In particular, to create practical results through the council, the plan is to strengthen connections with government support by prioritizing outstanding R&D tasks for funding. Notable technology development projects include smart bridge systems, automation of precision-guided missile manufacturing processes, and high-power (1,500 horsepower class) power trains for tanks.
A Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy official said, "The budget allocated for R&D support this year is 200 billion won." The official added that in addition, it has been decided to support export financing for small- and medium-sized defense corporations to enter the global value chain.
Deputy Minister Lee Seung-ryul emphasized, "To enhance the momentum of defense exports and establish a sustainable defense ecosystem, it is important to unify national capabilities between the government and civilian-military sectors in a one-team approach." He added that the Advanced Military-Civilian Cooperation Council will establish itself as the best platform for military-civilian collaboration and actively support the expansion of the application of civilian advanced technologies to defense, leading to sustainable K-defense initiatives.