"Don't Use Samsung Phones?" Even the U.S. Military Does, But There Is an Unexpected Reason [Yang Nakkyu's Defence Club]

Encryption Policy Must Be Improved Before Advancing Tactical Communication Systems
Essential for Functions Such as Drone Operation and Wounded Soldier Monitoring

The U.S. military has decided to procure additional units of Samsung Electronics' latest military-grade smartphone. In contrast, the South Korean military does not use smartphones in the field, leading to calls for a change in current encryption policies.

Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition designed for military operational environments. Provided by Samsung Electronics

The South Korean armed forces are currently promoting a next-generation tactical communications system. Their plan is to integrate ground, aerial, and space combat systems into a single network by utilizing a dedicated 5th-generation (5G) mobile communication network, among other technologies. However, the major challenge lies in security policy. Due to a hardware-centric and highly conservative security approach, the proper introduction of operational smartphones has been delayed. While the U.S. military uses Samsung Electronics smartphones, the South Korean military continues to rely exclusively on military cloud-based solutions for handling classified information. This is the primary reason why smartphones are not permitted. As a result, there are growing calls that, in order to advance the tactical communications system or the Korean Command and Control System (KCCS) project, a fundamental shift in security policy is essential.

The United States is taking an active stance on smartphone usage. The Commander of United States Forces Korea has officially confirmed that they are working with Samsung to develop a "military cloud infrastructure." Commander Xavier Brunson appeared on the U.S. Army War College podcast in May and stated, "We are working with Samsung to develop an outstanding cloud infrastructure. This partnership will allow us and our allies to maintain communication even when networks are disrupted or disabled." Currently, the U.S. military is envisioning a "multi-layered military network" that links the command and communications systems of Asian allies such as South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, primarily in consideration of countering China.

Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition Equipped on U.S. Military Tactical Gear

Samsung Electronics is also taking proactive steps. Since developing the Galaxy S9 Tactical Edition (TE) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense in 2012, Samsung has been supplying these tactical smartphones to the U.S. Army. In 2020, the company launched an upgraded Galaxy S20 TE, and in 2023, it expanded its lineup with the release of the Galaxy S23 and XCover6 Pro models. The U.S. Marine Corps currently uses Samsung smartphone-based systems under the "Target Handoff System" program to obtain operational information. In addition, devices for use by military personnel aboard U.S. Navy submarines are also under development and will be supplied in the near future.

Samsung's operational phones operate without servers and include features like external GPS support and laser rangefinder capabilities. Other functionalities—such as confidential lock mechanisms and stealth mode—are also highly useful for military operations. It has also been reported that the German Army is considering adopting the Samsung XCover6 Pro tactical phone and the Samsung security solution Knox as part of their military technology advancement projects.

Samsung Electronics has become even more aggressive in this field. Having entered the military smartphone market in 2019, the importance of military smartphones has grown significantly amidst emerging next-generation battlefields such as drone warfare. Beyond battlefield photography, these military-specialized multifunctional devices can be used for drone operation and monitoring the condition of injured soldiers. Reports indicate that Samsung is preparing to unveil the Galaxy S26 TE, a smartphone modified for military use, just three years after the release of the Galaxy S23 TE.

A government official commented, "Although the military is pursuing various projects such as a tactical mobile communication system, multi-layered integrated network systems, and intelligent network operation systems, the application of software-based encryption methods and other improvements are a necessary first step."

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