ADD, Establishment of Missile Research Institute for Hyunmoo-4 Development

In front of the main gate of the Agency for Defense Development. All other facilities are security zones where photography is prohibited.

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has established a Missile Research Institute to intensively develop missile technologies for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

On the 28th, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) explained in its report to the National Assembly's National Defense Committee that as part of ADD's innovation plan, the ADD will reorganize its business structure to focus on secretive weapons and future challenge defense technologies, establish the Missile Research Institute (April 6), and restructure into a system comprising the Defense Advanced Science Research Institute and Technology Centers. The Technology Centers will rapidly conduct research in focused technology fields such as space and artificial intelligence (AI). DAPA added that the establishment of the Missile Research Institute took into account the external security environment.

Additionally, research on the necessity of the Navy's ongoing light aircraft carrier (30,000-ton class, light carrier) project is scheduled to begin by the end of this month.

DAPA stated, "To ensure objective and comprehensive discussions during the light aircraft carrier project promotion process, we are conducting research services and project feasibility studies," adding, "The research service is scheduled to start at the end of April." The research service, funded with 100 million KRW and conducted by the Korean Association of International Politics until October, will analyze the operational concept and effectiveness of the light carrier and verify the necessity of the project through gathering diverse opinions.

Following this, the project feasibility study will verify the appropriateness of the total project cost. To complete this before the government budget proposal is submitted to the National Assembly, a kickoff discussion will be held in May, and the feasibility study will be conducted by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) until August. DAPA plans to continuously report the interim and final results of the research service and feasibility study to the National Assembly and aims to conclude both before October so that they can be utilized during the National Defense Committee's discussions.

Furthermore, DAPA plans to begin development test evaluations for the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet starting in May. The test evaluations will cover 109 areas, including 28 ground tests such as flight control.

DAPA stated, "Through organic cooperation with Korea Aerospace Industries, the Air Force, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, we will complete successful system development by June 2026," and added, "The first flight took place in July 2022, and additional armament tests will be conducted from June 2026 to 2028."

Notably, it was revealed that Indonesia has requested technical support for its engineers who will return in the second half of the year regarding the Korean-style fighter jet project.

The Ministry of National Defense reported in its 'Defense Work Report' to the National Assembly's National Defense Committee on the same day, "We confirmed Indonesia's commitment to the successful promotion of the KF-21/IF-X (Indonesian designation) project," and "Indonesia hopes for Korean support so that its personnel can catch up with the technical gaps in the KF-21/IF-X joint development."

This was confirmed as a direct statement by Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia's Minister of Defense, who visited Korea on the 8th and held talks with Minister of National Defense Suh Wook. Minister Prabowo also expressed that Indonesian engineers would return to Korea in the second half of this year to normalize joint development.

The Ministry of National Defense added, "We are promoting the 6th Korea-Indonesia working-level meeting in the second quarter of this year to resolve Indonesia's contribution issues," and "We will continue to promote the normalization of joint development, including the participation of Indonesian development personnel in the second half of this year."