How the United States Developed the World's Most Advanced Weapon Technology [Reading Science]

Introducing Challenging Research Systems like 'DARPA' for Steady Progress
Korean-style DARPA: Autonomous, Independent, and Consistent Projects

The unmanned vessel 'DroneShip' that the U.S. Navy successfully test-sailed in 2016. DroneShip secretly tracks submarines.
[Photo by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] When the Soviet Union succeeded in launching the Sputnik satellite in 1957, the United States was struck by the "Sputnik Shock." While still basking in the victory of World War II, the "Polar Bears" of Siberia, who couldn't even properly manufacture tanks, had suddenly overtaken them. After careful consideration, the U.S. government concluded that "there was an abundance of ideas and resources, but a lack of effort to actively utilize them to produce results." As a result, the following year saw the birth of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under the U.S. Department of Defense. It is a daring defense research and development (R&D) system that does not punish failure. Although not well known to Koreans, DARPA is famous as the cradle of cutting-edge strategic weapon technologies that have maintained the United States' status as the world's strongest power, including the development of ARPANET, which gave birth to the internet.

◇The Birth of DARPA

What kind of organization is DARPA, and what role does it play? According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, DARPA is a specialized management agency that plans, evaluates, and manages defense R&D to boldly invest in disruptive innovation technologies aimed at U.S. national security. Sounds complicated, right? DARPA acts as a bridge between universities and private research institutes responsible for basic research and the industry responsible for commercialization, ensuring that excellent ideas are not wasted. It discovers talent and ideas and moves them closer so that people can recognize them.

Simply put, if there is a promising idea, DARPA first invests in it to mature it sufficiently, then connects it with industry to enable final commercialization, acting as an intermediary. For each program, it invests 10 to 15 billion KRW over 3 to 5 years, spending about $3.5 billion (3.8 trillion KRW) annually on around 250 programs. In 2021, DARPA reportedly spent 583 billion KRW (15.1%) on basic research, 1.496 trillion KRW (38.8%) on applied research, and 1.627 trillion KRW (43.4%) on development research. It invests about 5% of the U.S. defense budget in pioneering research and technology development that does not hold people accountable for failure.

◇Independent and Horizontal Research Organization

The biggest feature of DARPA is that it is an independent organization minimizing external influences such as from politicians. Even the U.S. President cannot arbitrarily interfere with DARPA's R&D. Internally, however, the organization is thoroughly horizontal. It has a simple and clear structure composed of a director, department heads, and civilian project managers (PMs) to prevent researchers from being burdened with administrative tasks. Department heads do not interfere with each PM but focus only on appointing new PMs. Naturally, the role of PMs is significant. PMs select R&D projects that are important for national security or industrial competitiveness but carry high risks of failure and are difficult for the private sector to handle. The selection criteria include ▲ projects expected to yield groundbreaking benefits but with high failure risks, ▲ projects with innovative problem-solving ideas, and ▲ projects that can bridge the gap between basic research and market demand. Flexible research systems are also a hallmark. Various R&D methods such as competitive R&D and contests are used to promote internal competition and inject fresh external ideas. Even changing the research and development goals midway (Moving Target) is allowed.

DARPA's hypersonic air-breathing weapon concept.

◇Key Player in the Leap of U.S. Cutting-Edge Weapon Technology

Since DARPA's establishment, the U.S. advanced strategic weapon technology has made remarkable progress. Besides ARPANET, DARPA is behind the development of satellite navigation systems (GPS), stealth technology, unmanned aerial vehicles, thought-controlled robotic arms, smart bullets, and enhanced infantry suits. Recently, it has expanded into space navigation and cyber domains. Led by DARPA and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), established the same year, the U.S. quickly caught up with the Soviet Union in the space race, achieving the first human moon landing (Apollo 11) in 1969, turning the tables. Ultimately, the U.S. won the Cold War against the Soviet Union that lasted until the 1980s. Fundamentally, the U.S. victory over the Soviet Union was due to leading in 'innovation' across all fields regardless of ideology or system, but the daring and creative research system that 'does not fear failure' in science and technology, especially advanced strategic weapon technology, played a major role.

Conceptual Diagram of Collaborative Autonomous Operations Released by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

◇Korean-Style DARPA: Independence, Autonomy, and Unified System Are Key

Korea has partially adopted such a system centered on the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), achieving results. Numerous advanced weapons have been developed and domestically produced, including the first Korean fighter jet KF-21 Boramae, Hyunmoo-4 ballistic missile, the 3,000-ton class submarine Dosan Ahn Changho equipped with a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) system, K2 tank, and K9 self-propelled howitzer. However, Korea is still only a 'Fast Follower' and has not yet become a 'First Mover' pioneering new technologies and weapons.

Recently, the Ministry of Science and ICT and ADD reportedly met on the 20th to join forces in developing disruptive innovation technologies through more daring R&D that will dramatically change the future battlefield. Is there really a separation between 'science' and 'defense' in national security? At this meeting, the Ministry of Science and ICT proposed that strengthening the Korean-style DARPA system requires ▲ securing independence ▲ enhancing PM autonomy ▲ establishing a consistent cross-ministerial execution system. Our military must face not only nuclear-armed North Korea but also the strongest powers in Northeast Asia and soon venture into space. Just as Admiral Yi Sun-sin challenged conventional wisdom by asking 'How can iron float on water?' and built the turtle ship to save Joseon, this meeting between the Ministry of Science and ICT and ADD could be an opportunity to equip the future Korean military with proper weapons.

On the 50th anniversary of the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), an unmanned reconnaissance vehicle demonstrated its operational performance at the joint defense science demonstration held on the 3rd at the Anheung Comprehensive Test Site in Taean-gun, Chungnam.

The unmanned reconnaissance vehicle performs missions such as remote and autonomous driving, day and night surveillance, friend-or-foe identification and remote armament, chemical agent detection, and mine detection to scout and reconnoiter dangerous areas in armored and mechanized unit vanguards. 2020.8.5/News1