LIG Nex1 Wins First Cyber Weapon System Project Contract

Development of 'Cyber Battlefield Management System' by 2025
AI Integration Enables Preemptive Attacks Based on Data

Domestic defense company LIG Nex1 is embarking on the exploratory development of a ‘Cyber Battlefield Management System’ capable of conducting cyberattacks. This initiative aims to fully prepare for cyber warfare based on cyber technologies developed by the government and military over the past decade.

According to a government official on the 16th, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) is investing approximately 20 billion KRW to develop the ‘Cyber Battlefield Management System’ by 2025 and has begun selecting a development company. LIG Nex1, Hanwha Systems, Samsung SDS, and Hunid Technologies participated in the bidding, with LIG Nex1 receiving the highest score and being selected as the system development contractor.

LIG Nex1 plans to integrate core technologies secured through government research and development (R&D) investments to build the cyber battlefield management system in preparation for North Korea’s cyberattacks. This system will perform ‘cyber intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance’ missions by collecting and fusing information on friendly and enemy cyber assets, threats, and vulnerabilities, as well as enabling command and control and active cyber response capabilities.

In particular, if a cyberattack occurs, the system will analyze attack routes, assess asset damage, and evaluate the impact on military operations to enable offensive countermeasures. This effectively means possessing ‘cyberattack capabilities.’ Civilian technologies have primarily focused on preventing information leaks and blocking ransomware infections during cyberattacks, making offensive actions virtually impossible. The military expects that by integrating big data and artificial intelligence (AI), preemptive strikes will be possible based on actual data held.

A government official stated, “If a contract is signed with LIG Nex1 next month, this will effectively become the first cyber weapon system project, and based on this, system development will commence from 2027.”