Six defense innovation products designated for first time, including gas mask cleaning device and mobile drone station

Six civilian-developed products — including a device that washes, sterilizes and dries gas masks, and a mobile drone station — have been designated as defense innovation products, marking the first designations since the system took effect.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance and South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said Thursday that six defense innovation products were designated at a public demand discovery committee chaired by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The defense innovation product designation system was established in December last year to accelerate the adoption of superior civilian technologies by the military and boost their utilization. It has been in operation since this year, with its core mission being to identify innovation products the military needs and deploy them in the field.

The six newly designated products include the gas mask washing, sterilization and drying device, a mobile drone station, melt- and drop-resistant combat uniforms, a 20-ton hydraulic automatic two-stage hydraulic breaker, a chamber cleaner and an intelligent surveillance and reconnaissance mission system.

The government expects the products to find broad application across military operations — from equipment maintenance and management to mission execution, troop safety and uniform improvements.

Starting next year, the government plans to expand the defense innovation product designation system and address shortcomings identified during this year's inaugural operation.

To that end, the two ministries plan to broaden the scope of eligible products, refine evaluation criteria and operational procedures, and strengthen inter-agency cooperation to more actively identify and designate outstanding civilian technologies and products that meet military needs.