01 April 2021

South Korea enacts law to transform defence R&D culture

by Jon Grevatt

South Korea enacted legislation on 1 April to spur advancements in national capability to undertake military-technology research and development (R&D).

The new Defense Science and Technology Innovation Promotion Act is intended to enable the country to make “rapid changes in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and to systematically support defence R&D”, said the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

South Korea enacted on 1 April the Defense Science and Technology Innovation Promotion Act, which is intended to promote greater levels of collaboration on major defence R&D projects such as the KAI KF-X fighter aircraft. (Korea Aerospace Industries)

The legislation, DAPA added, is focused on “fostering a creative and competitive” defence R&D culture that will support advanced technology development and demands for new military systems.

The law is also aimed at supporting the evolvement of an “open defence R&D system” in which there is greater emphasis on collaboration including private-sector involvement.

The legislation is supported by record levels of proposed defence R&D funding.

South Korea’s mid-term defence spending plan, which runs through 2021–25, outlines total defence funding of KRW300.7 trillion (USD270 billion), with KRW200.6 trillion allocated for operating expenses and KRW101.1 trillion for military modernisation, including procurement and R&D.

According to DAPA, the Defense Science and Technology Innovation Promotion Act contains several key clauses. These include:

Citing its parent agency, the Ministry of National Defense (MND), DAPA said the new law will also seek to “reorganise” defence R&D in the country to enable greater priority to be given to 4IR technologies and the associated involvement of small firms, established defence companies, state research agencies, and academia.

South Korea enacted legislation on 1 April to spur advancements in national capability to undertake ...

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