September 24-26: Three-Day Event at Gumico and Kumoh National Institute of Technology
2025 Aerospace Defense Logistics Exhibition
Largest Ever with 94 Domestic and International Companies Participating
Gumi Defense Industry Partnership (GDIP) to Be Held Concurrently, Inviting Foreign Military Attach?s
Gumi City will host the 2025 Aerospace Defense Logistics Exhibition (2025 GADLEX) and the 3rd 2nd Operations Commander's Dronebot Combat Competition from September 24 to 26 at Gumi Convention Center (Gumico) and Kumoh National Institute of Technology.
Both events will kick off with a joint opening ceremony at 11 a.m. on the 24th, followed by a series of collaborative programs bringing together industry, academia, and the military to maximize synergy.
In addition, the 2025 Gumi Defense Industry Partnership (GDIP) will be held from September 23 to 24, inviting more than 30 foreign military attach?s.
On the first day, participants will visit Hanwha Systems for an industrial tour and explore cultural sites such as the Saemaul Theme Park and the Neo-Confucianism History Museum.
On the second day, they will attend the opening ceremony of the Aerospace Defense Logistics Exhibition, a defense industry forum under the theme "The Future of K-Defense Opened Through Cooperation," as well as business matching and networking events, expanding opportunities for international exchange between companies and institutions.
This year’s exhibition, the largest ever with 94 domestic and international companies and organizations participating in a total of 204 booths, will be held at Gumico. Programs include exhibitions and promotions of the latest defense industry technologies and products, export consultation meetings between overseas buyers and companies, youth talent recruitment briefings, and seminars and forums involving industry, academia, and experts.
The event will provide companies with opportunities to explore overseas markets and expand cooperation networks.
Various forums and seminars will be held, including an offset trade-linked export consultation meeting with 10 overseas companies, one-on-one government support project consulting provided by the Defense Industry Mutual Aid Association, Defense Industry Trade Support Center, and Korea Testing Laboratory, a policy discussion on fostering the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Airport logistics industry, the GDIP Forum, UAM and Drone Defense Dome seminars, a Gumi City investment briefing, technology exchange meetings, and the 2025 International Drone Industry Forum. These programs are expected to further expand cooperation and exchange among industry, academia, and businesses.
The "Youth and University (Graduate) Student Talent Recruitment Consultation and Briefing," introduced for the first time this year, will provide young people with employment opportunities and career exploration. Leading domestic aerospace and defense companies such as Hanwha Aerospace, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korean Air, Hanwha Systems, LIG Nex1, Firstec, Withforce, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Korea Aviation Engineering & Maintenance Service (KAEMS), MoaSoft, and Next Aerospace will participate, directly engaging with university and graduate students on-site to secure future talent and discover outstanding individuals. Those wishing to participate in the talent recruitment consultation must pre-register on the website by 5 p.m. on September 19.
During the exhibition, a variety of military and aviation experience programs will be available, including anti-drone gun jamming training simulators and helicopter piloting VR simulators, allowing visitors to experience the latest technologies firsthand.
In addition, the Korea Defense Industry Association, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, and Gumi City will sign a business agreement to foster the defense industry.
The three organizations plan to cooperate in various fields, including nurturing professional talent through education support for defense companies, collaboration and joint education, research, and information exchange in the defense industry sector, and promoting defense industry exports and international cooperation, with the aim of strengthening the competitiveness of Gumi's defense companies and advancing the regional defense industry.
◆ 3rd 2nd Operations Commander's Dronebot Combat Competition
The 3rd 2nd Operations Commander's Dronebot Combat Competition, held at Kumoh National Institute of Technology during the 2025 Aerospace Defense Logistics Exhibition (2025 GADLEX), marks its third year in 2025.
This competition aims to lay the groundwork for building an AI-based manned-unmanned integrated combat system for the Operations Command, enhance advanced dronebot operation skills, generate requirements for combat development, and integrate military-applicable areas of advanced science and technology research from universities. It also seeks to advance urban operation systems utilizing cutting-edge science and technology through cooperation among the public sector, private sector, military, industry, academia, and research institutes.
The Dronebot Combat Competition consists of seven categories, divided into "military application" and "sports participation" fields. The military application field includes four categories: surveillance and reconnaissance, bomb dropping, drone creation, and robot challenge, all designed to enhance the military utility of drones. The sports participation field includes three categories: drone soccer, drone racing, and drone battle.
Civic experience programs will be available throughout the event, including Surion helicopter exhibitions and rides, aviation and drone simulators, robot making, 3D printing, pop drone battles, drone piloting, laser engraving, and simulated shooting experiences.
On the opening day, September 24, from 5 p.m., a variety of cultural events such as a military band performance, honor guard demonstration, and busking performances will be held, creating a venue for harmony and coexistence among the public, private sector, and military.
Gumi Mayor Kim Jangho stated, "The Aerospace Defense Logistics Exhibition and the Dronebot Combat Competition showcase both the present and future of the defense industry. I hope this event will serve as an opportunity for local companies to expand globally and for young people to discover new opportunities."
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