Key Takeaways
- South Korea ranks eighth among 12 advanced countries in defense science and technology, tied with Japan.
- The K9 self-propelled artillery system ranks fourth in the artillery systems category.
- South Korea’s defense technology capability is estimated at 82% of that of the United States, which maintains the top position at 100%.
Defense Technology Standing
South Korea’s defense science and technology has been assessed to be on par with Japan, achieving eighth place among twelve advanced nations in a recent survey conducted by the National Defense Technology Promotion Research Institute. The “2024 National Defense Science and Technology Level Survey” highlights South Korea’s strength in artillery systems, particularly the K9 self-propelled guns, where it ranks fourth globally.
The survey, completed with input from around 400 defense experts through various assessments and discussions regarding ten major weapons systems, measures each country’s capabilities against a standard set by the United States. The U.S. has consistently maintained its leading position since the survey’s inception in 2008 with a benchmark score of 100%. In comparison, South Korea is estimated to operate at 82% of U.S. capabilities, an improvement from its previous ninth-place ranking in 2021.
The complete ranking of the surveyed countries is as follows: the United States (100%), France (89%), Russia (89%), Germany (88%), the United Kingdom (87%), China (86%), Israel (84%), South Korea and Japan (82%), Italy (79%), India (73%), and Spain (70%).
In addition to its solid performance in artillery systems, South Korea ranked seventh in mobile combat systems, which encompass the K2 tank, as well as command and control, communication, ammunition, and air defense weapons. Notably, there has been significant progress in the defense software sector, showing a 6 percentage point rise to 79%. The public unmanned systems arena, which is gaining importance, saw South Korea placed eighth with an 83% rating.
Son Jae-hong, director of Kukki-yeon, attributed South Korea’s advancements in defense technology to strategic government investments in research and development, successful innovations in core technologies and weapons systems, as well as a growing emphasis on defense exports. These factors collectively contribute to the nation’s enhanced standing in international defense technology.
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