Agreement on Integrated Drone Defense Pilot Zone for National Key Facility Zones
Conducting Large-Drone Demonstration and Evaluation, Promoting Related Technology Development and Workforce Training
On the 5th, Gumi City in Gyeongbuk signed a business agreement at City Hall with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Army 2nd Operations Command, Kyungwoon University, Hanwha Systems, and LIG Nex1 to promote the pilot project for integrated drone defense in the national important facilities zones in the Gumi area.
Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Pilot Zone of Integrated Drone Defense in National Critical Infrastructure Zones.
The agreement was attended by Mayor Kim Jang-ho, Lieutenant General Ko Chang-jun of the Army 2nd Operations Command, Colonel Jung Yoo-soo of the Army 50th Division, Kim Kwang-seok, Emergency Safety Planning Officer of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Kim Dong-je, President of Kyungwoon University, Park Do-hyun, Head of Command and Control Division at Hanwha Systems, and Kook Chan-ho, Head of C4ISTAR Business Division 2 at LIG Nex1.
This project is the first public-private-military cooperative initiative nationwide to zone and protect multiple national important facilities against the increasing threats posed by advanced drones. Through demonstration evaluations and research and development, it plans to expand nationwide in the future.
Through the agreement, the parties will promote ▲establishment of basic and operational plans for the defense dome pilot project ▲creation, demonstration, and evaluation of anti-drone infrastructure ▲institutionalization and expansion of anti-drone zoning projects ▲formation of an anti-drone defense industry ecosystem and promotion of cooperative projects ▲research and development and talent cultivation cooperation projects for fostering the anti-drone defense industry.
Starting from the first half of this year, integrated anti-drone systems including detection radars, identification equipment, and jammers will be installed by zone. Drone control systems will be established, research centers opened, and demonstrations and evaluations conducted through defense training. Through project advancement, it aims to develop into a leading model of national policy for anti-drone defense systems.
This agreement marks the starting signal for building an integrated anti-drone defense system. Through mutual cooperation among the public, private, and military sectors, it will establish zoned defense systems for multiple national important facilities, institutionalize them through regular demonstrations and evaluations, and is expected to serve as a good cooperative case for establishing an anti-drone system. It is anticipated to enhance regional and national security while rapidly responding to the development of advanced industrial technologies such as drones and fostering related industries.
Recently, with the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars and North Korea’s advancement of unmanned aerial vehicles, the strategic value of weaponized drones has surged. However, defense measures to detect, identify, and neutralize drones remain insufficient. In particular, to protect multiple national important facilities, there is a growing need to establish an integrated defense system that zones facilities to improve defense efficiency and sustainability.
In this regard, Gumi City is evaluated as the optimal site for anti-drone demonstrations, with large-scale advanced industrial complexes from National Industrial Complex 1 to 5, major defense companies such as Hanwha Systems and LIG Nex1, the aviation-specialized Kyungwoon University’s demonstration capabilities, and the wide demonstration space provided by the Nakdong River. Additionally, synergy effects and stable project promotion are expected through linkage with related national projects such as the Gumi Defense Innovation Cluster and the Gumi Drone Special Free Zone project selected last year.
Mayor Kim Jang-ho stated, “The drone defense system is a new field where various technologies and industries converge. Gumi City is a city with sufficient capabilities and potential in advanced and defense industries, making it the optimal testbed for this project.” He added, “I deeply thank the participating organizations for their great efforts and support for this pilot project and ask for their active cooperation. Going forward, Gumi City will actively strive to successfully promote the project as a leading city in the defense industry.”
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