The South Korean Ministry of National Defense has developed a master plan for defense science and technology innovation with 10 focus areas, National Defense reported. According to Seong Tae Jeong, chief technology officer at the Agency for Defense Development’s Advanced Defense Science and Technology Research Institute, the plan’s priority technologies include artificial intelligence and manned-unmanned defense force capabilities.
Speaking to attendees of the recent Pacific Operational Science and Technology Conference in Honolulu, Jeong said Seoul’s interest in AI and autonomous systems seeks to remedy Korea’s manpower shortages. “Territorial defense can no longer rely solely on human resources,” the official said. The conference was co-sponsored by the National Defense Industry Association and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Communication Sandbox
Jeong proposed that South Korea and its allies develop shared platforms and open-source systems as a collaborative framework for network information, manned-unmanned systems and cybersecurity. He said the effort would be the initial step toward creating a communication sandbox that would reshape the evolution of the battlefield.
“Through this communication sandbox for defense science and technology, all the scientists, engineers and researchers who are here will be inspired and find (solutions) for the challenges that cannot be solved,” Jeong said.
The four-day conference, which drew about 2,400 participants from 16 countries, included panel discussions, workshops, networking and technology demonstrations.