NeusLab CEO JaeHyuk Choi: "Targeting the Global Defense Market with Drone Technology Validated in 40 Countries"

Accumulating AI Autonomous Flight Technology in Wind Power
Targeting the Defense Market
Declares Candidacy for KOSDAQ Listing

The recent war in the Middle East has demonstrated that it is difficult to defend against attacks by low-cost drones using existing defense systems, primarily because expensive interceptor missiles must be used against inexpensive attack drones. It has also shown that the presence or absence of skilled operators greatly impacts the effectiveness of such attacks. NearsLab is a physical AI autonomous flight drone company that aims to solve these two emerging issues on the battlefield. The company leverages technological expertise accumulated over more than 10 years in the global wind turbine inspection market. Based on this foundation, NearsLab entered the defense industry in 2024 and secured a diverse range of references in a short period. Now, to pursue more aggressive entry into the global defense market, NearsLab has declared its initial public offering on the KOSDAQ.

On August 6, NearsLab held an IPO press conference at 63 Square in Yeouido, Seoul, where it unveiled its core technology competitiveness and growth strategy following the listing. Founded in 2015, NearsLab has commercialized autonomous flight technology that enables drones to perceive their environment and independently execute tasks without relying on human pilots. Its core technology lies in integrating software and hardware into a single system that supports advanced AI missions reliably, even in limited airframe environments.

At a press conference held on the 6th at 63 Square in Yeouido, Seoul, Jae Hyuk Choi, CEO of NearsLab, is presenting the core technology competitiveness and growth strategy after going public. NearsLab

Through its wind turbine safety inspection business, NearsLab has inspected more than 100,000 wind turbine blades in over 40 countries worldwide, achieving a mission success rate of over 99%. Building upon the accumulated autonomous flight technology and operational experience, the company expanded into the defense industry by developing the anti-drone hard-kill solution "KAiDEN" and the swarm suicide drone "XAiDEN.” CEO Jae Hyuk Choi explained, "We applied the technology validated in wind turbine inspections to KAiDEN, and then extended it to the battlefield-deployed swarm drone XAiDEN, which enabled us to quickly complete the products."

Achievements in the defense sector are materializing rapidly. XAiDEN is a next-generation tactical platform designed to allow one operator to control up to 10 drones simultaneously and won a project worth about USD 10 million last year. KAiDEN offers an optimal solution to neutralize enemy drone threats with low cost and high efficiency, and it has already been exported to Southeast Asia, including Singapore.

These business accomplishments have translated into financial growth. As revenue from the "XAiDEN Project," secured in the second half of last year, was recognized in the second quarter of this year, NearsLab posted provisional second-quarter sales of 16.9 billion won and operating profit of 500 million won, marking a quarterly operating surplus. The company explained that large-scale overseas defense projects have begun not only to validate technology but also to drive sales growth and improve profitability.

Looking ahead, NearsLab aims to select customers with high long-term procurement potential and sign new contracts within the year. NearsLab plans to apply the same strategy used in the wind power sector—securing globally recognized customers first and then expanding the market based on those references—to the defense business as well. CEO Choi stated, "What has been validated in 40 countries is not just a single drone, but NearsLab’s core technology: physical AI. This technology can be expanded anywhere."

He added, "Upon completion of the listing, we will become the first physical AI drone company to enter the KOSDAQ market. Using this IPO as a turning point, we will expand our production infrastructure and investment in research and development, and fully accelerate the global supply of KAiDEN and XAiDEN."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.