12th Defense Industry Development Council

Cooperation to expand in AI, drones and aviation engines

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek (left) and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan co-chair the 12th Defense Industry Development Council at the Ministry of National Defense conference hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Thursday. [Ministry of National Defense]
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek (left) and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan co-chair the 12th Defense Industry Development Council at the Ministry of National Defense conference hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Thursday. [Ministry of National Defense]

South Korea's defense and trade ministries are pooling their resources to advance the country's high-tech defense industries and expand exports.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of National Defense co-hosted the 12th Defense Industry Development Council on Thursday at the Defense Ministry's main conference hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Officials discussed eight agenda items, including plans for stable procurement of dual-use drones and a cross-ministry roadmap for AI transformation in the defense sector.

The two ministries agreed to strengthen cooperation in nurturing advanced strategic industries, including AI, drones and aviation engines. The Defense Ministry presented its policy direction for establishing dual-use drone standards and building a civil-military demonstration framework.

Officials also unveiled cross-ministry cooperation plans to accelerate defense AX — AI transformation — including joint development of AI products and services for the defense sector through civil-military technology collaboration and the creation of a defense-specific AI foundation model.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy shared plans to strengthen the civil-military technology cooperation ecosystem, including expanding investment in dual-use technologies and accelerating the virtuous cycle between advanced technology and the defense industry.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration reviewed the direction of a multi-ministry joint project through a written report on the current status and future plans for advanced aviation engine development.

The government, which has set its sights on joining the ranks of the world's top four defense exporters, also laid out measures to boost the competitiveness of South Korea's defense exports.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to establish a new Defense Export Civil Industry Cooperation Task Force to provide systematic support for private-sector collaboration in defense exports.

The task force will oversee the identification and development of industrial cooperation items, the preparation of cooperation packages, and publicity and implementation monitoring.

The Defense Ministry discussed plans to foster defense exhibitions led by the Korea Defense Industry Association and agreed to draw up guidelines for exhibition support by the end of this year.

The ministry also presented a defense export support strategy aimed at establishing a framework for expanding cooperation with purchasing countries in defense diplomacy and follow-on logistics support.

"We will strengthen collaboration between the ministry's M.AX — manufacturing AI transformation — alliance and the defense sector, build up the overall resilience of the defense ecosystem including parts, materials, equipment firms and subcontractors, and develop civil-military cooperation measures that revitalize regional economies, such as placing warship orders with domestic small and mid-sized shipyards," Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan said.

"We will push forward swiftly on the tasks discussed at this council to lay the groundwork for self-reliant national defense and strengthen our competitiveness in the global defense market," Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek said.


oskymoon@heraldcorp.com