The Ministry of National Defense plans to bring up the country’s weapons technology to the world class by 2014 while working to develop the country’s indigenous technologies by 2024. Simulation-based acquisition system will also be introduced.
At the 34th Defense Project Execution Committee meeting chaired by Defense Minister Lee Sang Hee, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) reviewed and approved the plans in a Defense Technology Development Plan that outlines the country’s goals between 2011 and 2025.
The Defense Technology Development Plan is a set of bold plans that include a roadmap for the development of new weapons technologies based on the country’s future needs in future warfare.
The plan consists of eight main objectives under a vision to secure ‘world class defense technology capabilities’ that include the establishment of a defense research and development system to develop indigenous weapons technology by 2024, improving the efficiency of investment on defense research and development and reinforcing research and development infrastructure.
It especially aims to diversify research and development systems by introducing Simulation Based Acquisition (SBA) and Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) systems to help establish a consolidated management system.
The SBA is a system where a new weapon or equipment will be tested under simulated environments from the very development stage to the actual deployment stage to verify the need for the new weapons and to help reduce the time and resources required to develop them.
The ACTD is a system designed to help quickly introduce existing technologies of the civilian sector to the military, and has been put to use by the United States since 1994 and our military has also been applying the system since 2007 in its development of new portable tactical computer workstations.
The Defense Technology Promotion Plan also outlines plans for the development and improvement of eight major weapons systems, including command and communications systems, while also calling for improving the competitiveness of the defense research and development sector by securing new infrastructure and strengthening cooperation between the civilian and military sectors.
Meanwhile, the Defense Project Execution Committee decided to replace the presidential plane with a new plane to be purchased from a foreign manufacturer as the existing one introduced in 1985 is limited to flying only short distances.
“Under the decision, the DAPA will review all the aircraft that can be used as a command aircraft and submit its purchase plan to the Defense Project Execution Committee by August,” a DAPA official said, noting the country will be able to announce its contract for bids in January once it secures the necessary funds in next year’s budget.
