Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

The military is striving to build strong forces backed by AI-based science and technology by establishing an intelligent 3-axis system and a future game changer

Emphasized need to improve law and systems to ensure speed and efficiency

Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup emphasized that “our military is pushing forward with the Defense Innovation 4.0 initiative with the view that it cannot survive without innovation.”

Lee made the statement in his opening address at the ‘third Defense Innovation 4.0 seminar’ held at the conference room of the National Assembly Hall on October 26, saying that “defense science and technology is a prerequisite for building strong military power.”

“Military powers, including the United States (US) and China, are competitively pushing forward with military innovation by swiftly incorporating advanced science and technologies in the defense area. Our military is also striving to build ‘strong forces backed by AI-based science and technology which have economic advantages’ by securing an intelligent three-axis system, a game changer on the future battlefield,” Lee said.

“The theme of this seminar, ‘defense research and development (R&D) and force improvement system,’ is a key area for the success of the Defense Innovation 4.0 initiative. To win the war in this Fourth Industrial Revolution era, we need to secure a weapons system which has an advantage over the opponent by adopting advanced science and technology in our national defense in a timely manner. We also need to build proactive military strategies and tactics to operate the weapons system in an effective way,” Lee explained. Lee also stressed the “need to improve the relevant laws and systems to secure the urgency and efficiency of the force improvement system,” saying that “given the current force improvement system, there is a limit to our ability to apply the rapidly advancing science and technology to the military in a timely manner.”

Significantly, Lee underlined that defense science and technology is a prerequisite to building strong military power, citing the example of Vannevar Bush, the American engineer who persuaded President Franklin Roosevelt to establish the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD), out of a sense of urgency prompted by the rapid development of science and technology in Germany in 1938, when the crisis of the outbreak of the Second World War was heightened.

“The OSRD developed radar, missiles, and nuclear weapons during the war and contributed to victory for the US. This was then extended and reorganized into the ‘Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA),’” Lee explained. “DARPA has played a decisive role in maintaining the unparalleled competence of US weapons systems by developing the Internet, GPS, and drones,” Lee added.

“In this light, it is really meaningful that we have set a place for discussions to develop defense R&D and the force improvement system. I expect that the valuable opinions expressed in today’s discussions will be a great aid to building a consensus on the Defense Innovation 4.0 initiative and improving the laws and systems, as well as securing the budget,” Lee said.

Co-chaired by Chairperson of the National Defense Committee Lee Hun-seung and Minister Lee, the seminar was attended by about 300 people, including members of the National Defense Committee, top ministry officials, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and each armed service, Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Korea Institute for Defense Analyzes (KIDA), Agency for Defense Development (ADD), the press, private companies and researchers from research institutes.

At the seminar, the participants made presentations and had discussions on the ‘development of the converged and open defense R&D system’ and ‘reestablishment of a force improvement process’ under the main theme of ‘redesigning defense R&D and a force improvement system to nurture strong forces backed by AI-based science and technology.’

Regarding the ‘development of the converged and open defense R&D system,’ Ha Tae-jeong, senior researcher of the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI), made presentations and came up with polices in multiple areas, including △ the operation of an advanced weapons system, △ the improvement of the defense acquisition system, and △ defense R&D system innovation.

This was followed by discussions among Kim Se-hun, chief of the Office of the Technology Policy of the ADD, Jo Yong-rae, researcher of the STEPI, Gwak Byeong-ho, senior assistant to Kim Byun-joo (member of the National Assembly), and Yoon Sang-ho, military correspondent for Donga Ilbo, at which various opinions were offered.

Regarding the reestablishment of a force improvement process, Park Jun-soo, chief of the Defense Acquisition and Industries Division of the KIDA, made presentations. “A ‘defense science and technology strategy committee’ under the direct control of the defense minister needs to be established in order to reestablish the concent of the force improvement process, and connect the planning for building military power to the defense science and technology innovation strategy,” Park said, emphasizing the need for follow-up measures, including the construction of a defense innovation platform where military, industry, university, and institutes are converged, the integrated development of the defense simulation system, and the innovation of the market-friendly contract system. Significantly, Park drew attention by presenting a draft concept for the force improvement process, i.e., ‘planning of building military power -> defense science and technology innovation -> defense R&D -> defense power improvement project -> force integration -> operation and maintenance’ after explaining military strength in terms of capabilities and policy concept, respectively.

Lee Geun-pyo, Army Policy Research Committee member, Lee Gu-seong (promoted to Rear Admiral of Navy), First Minister of Force Planning of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hong Jae-ki, Vice President of Hanwha Aerospace, and Kim Gwi-geun, General Manager of the Korean Peninsula Department of Yonhap News Agency joined in the discussions and exchanged meaningful policy-level opinions on the reestablishment of a force improvement process.

“This seminar was a place for discussions on the promotion direction for Defense Innovation 4.0, improvement of laws and systems, and plans to secure budget from the viewpoint of the National Assembly, and the scope, speed, and direction of defense innovation and the urgency in amendment of laws and systems from the viewpoint of the arms companies,” a ministry official said, adding “the participants hope that the alternative plans for the main issues discussed will be reflected in the master plan for Defense Innovation 4.0 and develop into strong forces backed by advanced science and technology.”