Naver与韩国航空宇宙产业签署国防AI基础模型合作MOU

Naver will jointly develop a defense-specific artificial intelligence (AI) model based on domestic technology with Korea Aerospace Industries, while expanding the partnership to develop physical AI-based future combat systems as part of South Korea's defense AI transformation (AX) initiative.
Naver, Naver Cloud and KAI announced on July 7 that they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at KAI's headquarters in Sacheon on July 6. The signing ceremony was attended by Choi Soo-yeon, chief executive officer of Naver, Kim Yoo-won, chief executive officer of Naver Cloud, and Kim Jong-chul, president and chief executive officer of KAI.
The three companies said they will jointly develop a foundation model optimized for the defense industry by combining Naver's proprietary AI technologies with KAI's aerospace and defense systems integration capabilities. The partnership will establish a comprehensive cooperation framework covering technology development through commercialization.
As an initial project, the partners will jointly develop a defense-specific AI foundation model. They also plan to participate together in government-led national research and development (R&D) programs and block funding initiatives to secure core technologies for next-generation defense physical AI while establishing a public-private-military collaboration framework that supports future commercialization.
The companies expect the partnership to play a key role in accelerating development of physical AI technologies, including unmanned aerial vehicle platforms and AI pilots, particularly for future battlefield environments where manned and unmanned aircraft and satellites are interconnected through KAI's Next-generation Air Combat System (NACS), which is currently under development.
The companies also plan to embed AI into future aerospace platforms, including manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) systems, to further enhance autonomous capabilities. In addition, they intend to expand AI collaboration with companies across the defense and aerospace supply chain to strengthen South Korea's AI ecosystem and industrial competitiveness.
Naver said the partnership is significant because it brings together South Korea's leading defense and aerospace company with one of the country's leading AI companies to strengthen technological self-reliance in national defense and security.
As concerns over AI sovereignty and technological control continue to grow, Naver and Naver Cloud have consistently emphasized the importance of domestically developed defense AI models. Through the partnership with KAI, the companies aim to establish a real-world reference case while strengthening their leadership in sovereign AI for defense.
One of Naver's strengths is its multimodal AI technology, which can process and reason across multiple types of data, including images, text and video. Leveraging data accumulated through services such as Smart Lens, the company is adapting its AI technologies into models specialized for defense applications as it expands into the defense AI transformation market.
Last month, Naver Cloud also established a dedicated Defense AX organization led by Yoo Kyung-beom, a vice president reporting directly to Chief Executive Officer Kim Yoo-won.
Choi Soo-yeon, chief executive officer of Naver, said, "Technological self-reliance in defense and national security is directly linked to national sovereignty. Securing proprietary sovereign AI infrastructure is therefore of paramount importance."
Kim Jong-chul, president and chief executive officer of KAI, said, "Global competition in defense AI is becoming more intense than ever, making it essential for the three companies to combine their core capabilities and respond together."