Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Battlefield situations visualized in real time using artificial intelligence and big data

Development of national defense intelligent alert and surveillance system

'Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality' incorporated into training and education

'Smart' detection of intrusions, and management of trainees

Republic of Korea's military will soon have an intelligent information communication technology (ICT) alert and surveillance system, which will perform surveillance and reconnaissance by analyzing the video information sent from various sensors, such as military satellites, spy aircraft, and unmanned air vehicles (UAV). It is expected that the introduction of this system to military forces will enable the construction of various scenario analysis settings by visualizing battlefield situations in real time. It will also be a big help in improving the ability of the military to carry out pinpoint strikes by using a high-resolution digital video map.

On April 3, the defense ministry announced that it will be developing an intelligent ICT alert and surveillance system with an investment of 2.9 billion won between this year and 2019. In addition to the intelligent ICT alert and surveillance system, the defense ministry plans to be active in introducing state-of-the-art ICT into national defense for smart weapons systems, the enhancement of training systems using advanced technologies, and the creation of smart barracks.

First, smart weapons systems will be developed using state-of-the-art ICT, such as artificial intelligence and big data. The defense ministry plans to greatly enhance the ability of the military to conduct information surveillance reconnaissance (ISR) through the construction of an intelligent ICT surveillance and reconnaissance system. A national defense intelligent alert and surveillance system will be developed with an investment of 10.6 billion won between next year and 2021. The national defense intelligent alert and surveillance system can study the surveillance site independently, and promptly recognize and analyze various changes on the site. The defense ministry's goal is to overcome the limitations of a human-centered surveillance system, such as tiredness and human error, and strengthen the ability to carry out alerts and surveillance by minimizing weather and illumination factors.

Training systems will be enhanced by using virtual reality and augmented reality technologies in various operations. In addition to the application of virtual and augmented reality technologies, the defense ministry is also developing a training and support system for high-risk military equipment maintenance that requires particularly skillful operators. The ministry will continue to develop content that reflects the needs of the training site, such as military vehicle driving education and practical education in nursing.

As well, there will be efforts for 'fusion' as a key to the fourth industrial revolution. The defense ministry plans to create a 'smart barracks' by fusing the existing systems with ICT. First of all, an intrusion detection system using vibration and thermal sensor technologies and Internet of Things (IoT)-based personnel, equipment, and facility management systems will be constructed to reduce management expenses and to relieve troop supply and demand. In addition, the ‘smart trainee management systems’ being used in two training regiments will be expanded into seven training regiments to create the best barracks, with scientific and efficient trainee management.

The development of a system to analyze military medical information using big data will start next year. The system collects, stores, integrates, and analyzes medical information from the national defense medical information systems, and it is expected that it will become the foundation for a diagnosis and treatment support using artificial intelligence. In addition, the system has the benefit of being able to accurately estimate the consumption of medical supplies, such as prevention of disease, prediction of infectious disease, and medicines.

The defense ministry has pledged to work for an innovative military capability improvement through ICT integration and fusion by expanding interchanges with related ministries and industry-academic-research institutions.

By Su-Yeol, Maeng <guns13@dema.mil.kr >

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