South Korea Urged to Integrate Fragmented Air Defense Systems Against Modern Threats
Military, industry, and academic experts at a defense conference in South Korea warned that the country must urgently build an integrated air and missile defense system to counter evolving threats like drone swarms and AI-enabled attacks. Current fragmented air defense systems cannot effectively respond to modern battlefields where multiple weapon types are deployed simultaneously. Integration of sensors, command systems, and interceptors is critical for national security as threats become increasingly complex.
At the Future of Integrated Air and Missile Defense conference in Daejeon, South Korean and international defense experts emphasized the need for a unified air defense architecture rather than isolated weapons platforms. Experts cited lessons from the Israel-Iran conflict and Russia-Ukraine war, noting that saturation attacks using drone swarms combined with ballistic and cruise missiles overwhelm fragmented defenses. The conference highlighted that South Korea's individual air defense weapons are world-class but limited by organizational silos between military branches and lack of integrated information sharing. Northrop Grumman and other defense firms presented network-centered approaches that link sensors to command systems and interceptors, allowing optimal threat response. Experts also recommended preparing for the reality that no defense system can intercept every threat, suggesting multilayered survival structures including public shelters. South Korean defense companies showcased domestic integrated air defense technologies at the event.
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- UPICenter
South Korea warned on fragmented air defenses
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