South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration will introduce a bottom-up weapons acquisition model that will allow defense companies to propose new systems directly to the military, according to a report from The Chosun Daily.
Under Seoul’s current system, the military initiates a lengthy requirements process before companies can participate. The new framework changes this by involving companies from the initial requirement review, where they can propose systems and, upon approval, discuss capabilities and timelines. Defense firms will then submit tailored development plans, forming the basis for acquisition projects.
According to the report, a primary goal of the transition is to shorten the typical development cycle, which usually lasts five to 10 years, and to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies, especially in fast-changing areas such as drones and artificial intelligence. Industry officials expect the new model to expedite weapon deployment and reduce the companies’ upfront spending on research and development.
A DAPA official noted that the approach will allow firms to understand military needs faster and begin preliminary development sooner.
Earlier in January, DAPA revised regulations to integrate domestically developed parts earlier into weapon systems design. According to DefenseMirror.com, the revisions aim to simplify evaluation processes, reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and boost the local defense industry.
These changes come amid significant growth in South Korea’s defense exports. In a February report by The Korea Economic Daily, industry analysts noted that foreign demand for South Korean weapons, particularly tanks and howitzers, continues to surge amid global conflicts. Local defense firms reported a record order backlog exceeding $73 billion at the end of 2024.