Aerospace industry calls for faster shift to software-defined defense

The Korea Times - Oct 19, 2026

JINJU, South Gyeongsang Province — Korea's aerospace and defense industry must move faster to develop software-driven technologies and strengthen ties between major manufacturers and smaller suppliers to compete in a market increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems, industry executives said Monday. During the third session of this year’s Jinju International Forum on Entrepreneurship, representatives from Anduril Korea, AeroVironment, Korean Air, LIG Defense & Aerospace and ANH Structure discussed strategies for turning emerging technologies into business opportunities and strengthening regional industrial ecosystems. The session was moderated by Patrick Donahoe, chief operating officer of Columbus State University. John Kim, head of Anduril Korea, said traditional defense procurement models were too slow to keep pace with modern warfare, calling for a shift toward software-defined defense and autonomous systems. Citing Anduril's Lattice — an open, sensor-agnostic, dual-use AI and software integration platform — and its autonomous air vehicle Road

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