South Korean defence prime LIG Nex1 announced that it has signed an agreement worth around US$10.5 million with the government-funded Defense Rapid Acquisition Technology Research Institute (DRATRI) to demonstrate new mobile ad hoc network (MANET) technologies for the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA).
LIG Nex1 added that the next-generation MANET development will include three types of communication equipment for up to brigade-level formations. The first type will be installed into surveillance and reconnaissance drones, the second type will be portable and can be carried by troops, while the third will be installed into combat vehicles. All variants will be capable of supporting uncrewed system operations.
The demonstration project is expected to be completed by 2027 with the first MANET system prototype delivered to the RoKA after six months of field trials.
“As the advancement and sophistication of weapon systems based on hyper-connectivity, hyper-intelligence, and networking rapidly progress, the swift development of next-generation communication solutions to support this has emerged as a national task,” said LIG Nex1, noting that the MANET development is expected to be integrated to ongoing RoKA modernisation efforts such as the Warrior Platform soldier system under the Army 4.0 programme.
To offset the expected reduction in manpower, the RoKA in 2018 launched its Army Tiger 4.0 programme wherein each soldier receives a ‘Warrior Platform’ comprising 33 types of personal equipment, including new communications systems, field uniforms, multi-hit ballistic vests and helmets, and sights. With each soldier effectively transformed into a sensor node, the army envisions that Tiger 4.0 will eventually take the form of a hyperconnected and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven ground combat network.
The RoKA reportedly plans to expand the Tiger 4.0 System to four battalions by 2021, four brigades by 2025, and all units by 2040. It is estimated that the effort will cost around US$1 billion.
by Jr Ng
