KAI, Team Naver to build independent defense AI platform

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Team Naver — comprising Naver and Naver Cloud — at KAI's headquarters in Sacheon on Monday to cooperate in aerospace and defense AI.

The signing ceremony was attended by KAI CEO Kim Jong-chul, Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon and Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yu-won, along with other senior executives from the three companies.

Under the MOU, the three companies will combine KAI's aerospace and defense capabilities with Team Naver's AI and cloud technology. Their cooperation will span the full pipeline from technology development to commercialization, covering the development of sovereign defense AI and independent models, joint identification of new defense AI projects, advancement of physical AI and expansion of the defense AI ecosystem.

The three companies will first pursue autonomous flight and autonomous mission execution technology for unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as an integrated AI platform for future combat systems. They plan to build an independent defense AI optimized for South Korea's security environment and establish technological sovereignty in defense AI. They also plan to jointly participate in government-led national research and development projects and block-funding programs to secure a first-mover advantage in next-generation defense physical AI core technologies.

The three companies will embed AI into future aerospace platforms to advance their level of autonomy and expand AI cooperation frameworks with partners in the defense and aviation sectors.

KAI is currently developing the Next-generation Aerial Combat System, which connects manned and unmanned fighter jets and satellites in an ultra-networked architecture. The partnership with Team Naver is expected to accelerate development of KAI's unmanned aerial vehicle platform and AI pilot, generating synergies in physical AI development.

"Competition in global defense AI is fiercer than ever, making it essential for the three companies to combine their core capabilities and respond together," KAI CEO Kim said. "I am confident that by bringing together KAI's aerospace and defense expertise with Team Naver's AI and cloud technology, South Korea will be able to establish technological sovereignty in defense AI and strengthen its global competitiveness in physical AI-based unmanned vehicles and future combat systems."

"Technological self-reliance in defense and security is directly tied to national sovereignty, which makes securing an independent sovereign AI infrastructure more important than anything else," Naver CEO Choi said. "We will do our utmost to combine Team Naver's advanced AI capabilities with KAI's defense infrastructure to solidify South Korea's technological sovereignty in national defense and security, and to create new global competitiveness for the future defense industry."

Meanwhile, KAI has been forging partnerships with various companies to strengthen its competitiveness in the space sector. It is jointly developing small satellites with Lemon Do, an Israeli startup.