Korea's Air Force, SNU launch AI initiative to reshape aerospace warfare

By Kim Hee-su Posted : July 6, 2026, 17:39 Updated : July 6, 2026, 17:58
Kim Jae-wan, head of the Seoul National University-Air Force AX Cooperation Center, speaks during a briefing on the Air Force’s AX hub and research projects at the Seoul AI Hub in Seocho District, southern Seoul on July 3, 2026. AJP Kim Hee-su
SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) - Seeking to accelerate its digital frontline transformation, the South Korean Air Force has partnered with Seoul National University (SNU) to develop three key AI technologies that can be directly deployed in military operations.

The projects will focus on tracking mobile missile launchers, automatically identifying targets and generating combat plans for aerospace operations. Each project will be carried out by a joint team consisting of SNU researchers and a participating private company.

The initiative is part of efforts to establish the Air Force AX Cooperation Center, a joint military-academic-industry hub designed to accelerate the Air Force’s adoption of artificial intelligence. AX refers to AI transformation.

The Air Force plans to establish an AX base at the Industrial AX Innovation Center within the Seoul AI Hub in August, with support from the Ministry of National Defense.

SNU will oversee the cooperation center, while Air Force personnel will be stationed there to identify operational requirements, conduct security reviews and help connect research results to military acquisition and deployment programs.

The Artificial Intelligence Research Institute has also been commissioned to provide specialized AI education and support the operation of the SNU-Air Force AX Cooperation Center.
 
An English-translated version of a presentation slide shows the locations of five defense AX hubs planned across South Korea for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Army, the Air Force, the Navy and the Marine Corps. AJP Kim Hee-su
“The Air Force AX center is not simply a research space,” said Zhang Byong-tak, head of SNU’s defense AI talent development program. “It is a hub for practical civil-military cooperation where technologies the Air Force actually needs are developed with companies and then directly applied and fielded in military operations.”

A project led by Zhang will focus on tracking mobile missile launchers. His team is developing an AI system that combines various data sources with maps to predict where these launcher vehicles will go after firing a missile. By showing these paths on a digital map in real time, the system will help analysts find moving targets much faster.

To identify targets automatically, Kwak No-jun’s team is building a system that analyzes both military photos and written text together. It will compare new images with older data to spot similar activities, while also checking past reports and records. This will help analysts pinpoint targets with greater speed and accuracy.

Another project, led by Yu Young-jae, applies AI to planning air and space combat. The team is creating a tool that helps assign troops, select targets, and recommend the best weapons based on official guidelines. This system aims to cut down planning time and help commanders make smarter, more accurate decisions.

Companies with AI capabilities, including startups, small and medium-sized enterprises and defense contractors, may apply to participate from July 6 to 17.

Applicants will first undergo a document review, with a shortlist of up to three candidates for each project. A committee led by SNU will then select the participating companies.

The selection and partnership agreements are expected to be completed in late July, with research scheduled to begin in early August.

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