Seoul Launches Air Force AX Hub, Supports K-Defense with AI Startup Technology

Opening of Air Force AX Hub at Seoul AI Hub

Expansion and relocation of existing AI New Technology Convergence Center

Joint research, including through a secure zone for defense data

Support for five AX projects annually through 2030

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Air Force are joining forces to apply private-sector artificial intelligence (AI) technology in defense and strengthen the competitiveness of the K-defense industry.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on the morning of October 28 that it had held an opening ceremony for the "Air Force AX Hub" at the Seoul AI Hub Industry AX Innovation Center and would support joint research and technology demonstrations to connect the military's AI technology needs with innovative technologies from private companies.

The opening ceremony of the “Air Force AX Hub” at the Seoul AI Hub Industrial AX Innovation Center. Seoul Metropolitan Government

The Air Force AX Hub is a facility created by expanding and relocating the Air Force AI New Technology Convergence Center, which had operated at the main Seoul AI Hub center, to the Industry AX Innovation Center. Equipped with research space, a server room, and a secure zone for defense data, it enables ongoing cooperation between private companies and the military.

The space at the main Seoul AI Hub center, where the Air Force AI New Technology Convergence Center was previously located, was only 314 square meters, while the newly relocated center covers 1,230 square meters. This will enable the establishment of a collaborative system that goes beyond the previous focus on technology exchanges and short-term research projects, allowing the military to identify, develop, and demonstrate AI technologies it needs together with private companies and researchers.

Although AI has significant potential for use in defense, security restrictions make it difficult for private companies to access military data or test technologies in actual defense environments. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it would work with the Air Force to help companies develop and demonstrate technologies based on the military's actual needs.

The secure zone for defense data is a space where military data requiring protection can be safely accessed for research and development. It will support companies participating in Air Force AX research projects in using data and is expected to provide secure-facility access services to other institutions in the future. In particular, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will support AI startups in developing, demonstrating, and commercializing technologies for the defense sector. It aims to broaden opportunities for startups to enter the defense market, which has high barriers to entry, by connecting the military's AI technology needs with Seoul's outstanding startups.

The opening of the Air Force AX Hub also continues AI-related cooperation between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Air Force, which began in 2023. The Seoul Metropolitan Government brought the Air Force AI New Technology Convergence Center to the Seoul AI Hub in 2024. In July this year, it signed a business agreement with the Air Force Aerospace and Combat Development Group to establish the AX Hub and expand joint defense AI research and technology demonstrations.

After signing a business agreement in 2023 covering five areas of emerging AI technologies, including the establishment of the Air Force New Technology Convergence Center, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Air Force pursued open innovation and research and development (R&D) projects connecting the Air Force's technology needs with private companies' AI technologies. Building on this cooperation, this year they are pursuing three open innovation projects and three R&D projects with AI startups, based on the Air Force's actual technology needs. The three open innovation projects are ▲predicting risks in the weapons system supply chain ▲an unmanned access control system ▲an on-premises generative AI assistant instructor. The R&D projects are ▲an AI-based combat planning model ▲an automated target identification model ▲a moving-target location-tracking model.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to support the identification of five Air Force AX projects annually through 2030 and establish a cooperation network involving major defense companies and defense-related institutions. Through these efforts, it aims to expand the use of private-sector AI technologies in defense and contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the K-defense industry and national security capabilities. Kim Hyunwoo, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Economic Affairs Office, said, "We will support Seoul's outstanding AI startups in participating in research and development and technology demonstrations based on the military's technology needs, and in turning these efforts into new business opportunities, so they can also contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the K-defense industry and national security capabilities."

About 150 people attended the opening ceremony, including the Air Force Chief of Staff, Lee Geunuk, vice chair of the Future Defense Strategy Committee, the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Economic Affairs Office, and the dean of Seoul National University's College of Engineering, the lead research institution for Air Force AX projects. In a video message, Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon said, "With the opening of the Air Force AX Hub, we will take cooperation between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Air Force to the next level and inject new momentum into defense innovation."

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