On October 12, the military established a foundation for the development and demonstration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to be used in hazardous missions such as mine clearance and explosive disposal. The first Defense AX (AI Transformation) base was opened in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, aimed at connecting advanced civilian technology with military needs to reduce the risk exposure of soldiers and enhance mission capabilities.
The Ministry of National Defense held the opening ceremony for the Defense AX base in Pangyo Techno Valley, presided over by Defense Minister Kang Shin-cheol. Approximately 150 representatives from the public and private sectors, including officials from the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the National AI Strategy Committee, attended the event.
The newly opened Army Pangyo AX base is the first of five planned Defense AX bases nationwide, with Ajou University serving as the lead institution. It will focus on operating 'Physical AI' technology applicable to humanoid and multi-legged robots.
At the Pangyo base, efforts will be made to collect Physical AI data and train AI models for robots using this data. The Ministry of National Defense plans to utilize this technology for transporting supplies in hazardous areas, explosive disposal, chemical and biological reconnaissance, and mine clearance. The goal is to integrate AI technology into missions that expose soldiers to danger.
The Defense AX base serves as a collaborative space connecting military needs with advanced civilian technology. It aims to establish a secure foundation for utilizing defense data and support joint research and demonstrations among the military, universities, and businesses.
Following Pangyo, the Ministry of National Defense plans to sequentially open bases in Yongsan, Daejeon, Busan, and Yangjae in Seoul. The Joint Chiefs of Staff and each military branch will operate a total of five bases in collaboration with selected lead institutions, promoting research and demonstrations in various fields.
The Yongsan base will work with Korea University to conduct demonstrations of military command and control using classified data. The Daejeon base will focus on AI research with KAIST and Agentic AI. The Busan base, serving the Navy and Marine Corps, will collaborate with UNIST on intelligent logistics support and marine AX demonstrations. The Yangjae base for the Air Force will work with Seoul National University on target automatic identification and other air force AX demonstrations.
Minister Kang emphasized, "The Defense AX base is a space where military field experience meets the technology and wisdom of academia and industry. It is in this meeting that the concept of 'how to fight' is established, and when that concept is firmly in place, advanced technology becomes a tool for victory."
He added, "With the advancement of cutting-edge science and technology, we have entered a battlefield where 'thinking exists.' The Defense AX base is the first step in opening that era, and I urge everyone gathered here to become the leaders of that future."
The Ministry of National Defense plans to strengthen technology development based on the collaboration of industry, academia, and the military centered around the Defense AX base, aiming to connect civilian AI technology with the needs of the defense sector to drive AI and data-based defense innovation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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