The Defense Acquisition Program Administration has continuously worked to develop the defense industry since its establishment in 2006. As a result, it is contributing to the national economy by exporting various weapons, including the K9 self-propelled howitzer, Redback armored vehicle, and FA-50 advanced trainer. Furthermore, the technological capability and excellence of K-defense are gaining global recognition, playing a key role in establishing a singular brand.
As the global security environment rapidly changes due to events such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, the nature of warfare is also significantly shifting. Now, wars are not merely fought on land and sea. The concept of Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), connected to air, space, and cyberspace, is emerging as a core focus, necessitating the establishment of a system that allows land, naval, and air forces to operate as a unified system.
In the United States, the development of the Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) system began in 2018, and NATO is also advancing a similar command and control system for multi-domain operations. Our military is also pushing forward with the Korea Command and Control System (KCCS) project since last year, in line with this trend.
The KCCS is being developed around three core elements: ultra-connectivity, ultra-intelligence, and ultra-convergence. First, ultra-connectivity involves real-time linking of all operational domains, including land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace, into a single network. Second, ultra-intelligence refers to the capability to quickly analyze vast amounts of information and support optimal decision-making using artificial intelligence (AI). Third, ultra-convergence is the function of integrating information collected from various sources into one.
To reliably implement the core elements of KCCS, it is necessary to establish a high-speed, low-latency communication environment. All information collected on the battlefield must be immediately transmitted to commanders, and commands must be quickly relayed back to the battlefield to increase the chances of victory. Accordingly, our military is pursuing a transition from a land-centered communication environment to a multi-layered communication environment encompassing land, sea, air, and space. We are aiming to develop communication networks based on 5G and low-orbit communication satellites through various projects, including technology development and rapid demonstration projects.
To win in future battlefields, it is essential to innovate command and control systems in accordance with evolving operational concepts. Through the KCCS project, our military will establish a state-of-the-art command and control system based on ultra-connectivity, ultra-intelligence, and ultra-convergence, equipping itself with the ability to actively respond to changes on the battlefield.
For the advancement of cutting-edge defense science and technology, international technological cooperation is necessary. Such cooperation can reduce uncertainties in technology development, and by sharing expenses, defense budgets can be utilized more efficiently. Our military is expanding collaboration with various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Middle Eastern nations.
The United States possesses the world's leading military network and artificial intelligence technology, allowing for the rapid introduction of advanced technologies through Korea-U.S. collaboration. The United Kingdom has strengths in cybersecurity and information protection technologies, enabling the construction of a more secure command and control system through Korea-U.K. collaboration. Australia has a strong interest in innovation in command, control, and communication technologies and is advancing its next-generation command and control system project (LAND4140) aimed at implementing ground-satellite multi-layered networks.
Through Korea-Australia technological cooperation, we expect the establishment of a multi-layered communication environment and the advancement of command and control systems we are pursuing. Middle Eastern countries actively promote the nurturing of the defense industry, and through collaboration with us, we can expand defense technology cooperation in the region. If various countries, including ours, collaborate leveraging each other's strengths, we will not only advance in defense science and technology but could also establish a more powerful and efficient Korea Command and Control System (KCCS) at an early date.