Arms agency launches new unit to nurture defense chips

The state arms procurement agency on Friday launched a unit dedicated to developing, managing and certifying semiconductors used in defense systems to meet growing demand for such chips amid evolving warfare and artificial intelligence technology. A ceremony marking its opening took place at the Daejeon office of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in the central city, home to a slew of science and technology research institutions. The unit's launch came as South Korea seeks to develop advanced weapons while reducing its reliance on foreign semiconductors essential in military systems. DAPA Minister Seok Jong-gun emphasized that securing capabilities to produce such chips at home is a "very important task," not only for the economy but also for national security. "The manned-unmanned teaming of assets, equipped with AI technology, is itself an assemblage of semiconductors, and as weapons evolve, demand for defense semiconductors will grow exponentially," Seok said. Source: Yonhap News Agency