Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Minister of National Defense stresses the embodiment of high-tech, strong military forces through "smart defense innovation"

Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo, Minister of Science and ICT Choi Ki-young visited the 20th Fighter Wing of Air Force, known as "intelligent, smart forces"

Ministers opened the AI, VR and AR technologies created through private-public-military cooperation to the public;
Current condition of troops and the situation of operations can be identified in real time;
Checked military site that incorporates "4th Industrial Revolution" technologies

Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo clarified his willingness to build forward-looking, advanced military forces by developing the concept of "smart troops." On June 9, Jeong made the announcement while opening the Air Force's 20th Fighter Wing, known as the site for the promotion of "4th Industrial Revolution Smart Defense Innovation," to the public.

During a visit to the 20th Fighter Wing accompanied by Minister of Science and ICT Choi Ki-young on Tuesday, Jeong presented a blueprint for smart troops, saying that the establishment of smart troops would facilitate "transparent and rational troop management" as well as "further effective implementation of operations."

“In terms of the implementation of operations, the establishment of smart troops enables commanders and officers to engage in command decision-making effectively and promptly in a complex, diversified operational environment as well as the reduction of military forces by correctly and speedily understanding the situation in real time,” Jeong said. “It will also facilitate the transparent and reasonable command and management of troops, including main assets, military strength, education and training, and budget management, as all the data on troops can be confirmed in real time.”

“The military is intensively pursuing "smart defense innovation" by integrating high-tech science and technologies with all areas of national defense in order to build "strong digital forces, smart defense" befitting the 4th industrial revolution,” Jeong said, adding that the smart defense innovation would greatly contribute to developing the national economy, including support for the establishment of a "smart city" and the export of related high-tech technologies, initiatives being promoted by the government, as it could facilitate the prompt commercialization of 4th industrial revolution technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR), and ultrahigh speed mobile communications, pioneered by the private sector through close private-public-military cooperation.

The two ministers’ visit on Tuesday took place to enable on-the-spot confirmation of the result while making progress in the "4th Industrial Revolution Smart Defense Innovation," part of the Defense Reform 2.0 initiative promoted by the government. The two ministers also checked on the progress in the "strategy to build intelligent, smart troops through private-public-military cooperation," which had been resolved in the 11th Science and ICT Minister’s Meeting held in April.

Intelligent, smart troops are defined as "advanced, strong troops" created by applying 4th industrial revolution technologies to the defense area, which should facilitate a real-time understanding of the status of all troops, as well as the situation of operations, and enhance transparency, efficiency, and rationality while managing troops at large, including managing military forces, munitions, facilities, energy, and budgets.

“I felt confident as a Korean citizen having been able to check the result of the 4th industrial revolution smart defense innovation on the spot,” Minister Choi commented after experiencing a VR-based flight education-and-training system, self-developed by the military. He also pledged that the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) would give its full support to the establishment of intelligent, smart troops.

After participating in the public rehearsal, the two ministers also had a meeting with main officials. Those at the meeting agreed to contribute to the growth of national innovations by continuing the private-public-military cooperation to push forward with the Defense Reform 2.0 initiative and "smart defense innovation" as well as to establish a trial intelligent, smart air wing system promoted by the Ministry of National Defense (MND).

With the aim of promptly pushing forward with the Defense Reform 2.0 initiative and "4th Industrial Revolution Smart Defense Innovation" the MND has selected some projects that must be established first for three innovations — defense management, technology and infrastructure, military strength system and is working to reflect those projects in the budget and cooperate with other governmental departments.

By Chae-Mu, Im <lims86@dema.mil.kr >
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