S. Korean defense SMEs target Southeast Asia at LIMA 2025
LANGKAWI, Malaysia — A group of small and mid-sized South Korean defense and technology firms participated in Southeast Asia's largest defense exhibition, LIMA 2025 as part of the Korea Pavilion organized by the Korea Defense Industry Association.
While not as high-profile as companies specializing in full-scale platforms or missile systems, these firms are making their pitch to expand from a domestic customer base into export markets, offering niche, narrative-driven solutions.
Augmented Knowledge, a company specializing in immersive training technology, showcased a mixed-reality simulation for aircraft maintenance. When a visitor put on the headset, a virtual 3D model of a Boeing 737's landing gear appeared, accompanied by on-screen instructions and voice prompts guiding the user through the steps needed to take it apart. Saying 'next page' moved the simulation onto the next step.
The system is powered by an artificial intelligence engine trained on hundreds of thousands of pages from aircraft maintenance manuals.
'It can even be used on the actual aircraft during maintenance,' said Jo Geun-sik, CEO of Augmented Knowledge. 'It cuts task time in half.'
Jo added that the company was preparing to enter Southeast Asia's aviation training and maintenance, repair and overhaul, or MRO, markets, beginning with Malaysia.
Another participant, Fostec, specializes in optical fiber connectors used in missile defense systems that link launchers, radar and command centers. The company aims to position itself as a cost-effective alternative to dominant US and European suppliers.
'Our products cost about 70 percent of what American and European firms charge, and we can deliver in less than a third of the time,' a Fostec official said. The company's connectors are already used aboard South Korea's Ulsan-class frigates and are slated for installation in its next-generation destroyers.
At the booth of Bstarcom, Malaysian and Indonesian military officers examined a backpack-style anti-drone weapon called the Hybrid Drone Gun, inquiring about its weight and operational range.
The system integrates detection, jamming and spoofing capabilities to not only block a drone's signal but also redirect it using false GPS data.
'Some customers are price-sensitive, while others prioritize performance,' said a company manager. 'But all of them share the same concern: the need to protect critical infrastructure from drone threats.'
This year, 12 South Korean defense and technology firms participated in the Malaysia-based exhibition, ranging from smaller firms including Bstarcom, Augmented Knowledge, Fostec and Fine Precision Industry to major players such as Korea Aerospace Industries, LIG Nex1 and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Government-affiliated institutions also took part, including the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
flylikekite@heraldcorp.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
13 hours ago
- Korea Herald
'Make KorUS Great Again': PM urges deeper Seoul-Washington ties
"Make KorUS Great Again," declared South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Tuesday, as he called for a renewed Korea-US alliance grounded in shared democratic values and future industries in the face of shifting global economic and security dynamics. Speaking at a policy seminar hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, Kim emphasized the Lee Jae Myung administration's commitment to a deeper strategic alignment with the US. 'I understand the efforts of the US to pursue a stronger nation, a stronger economy and a better treatment of American workers, regardless of whether it's under President Trump's term or not,' Kim said in his keynote speech, titled "Make KorUS Great Again." 'But I can say with conviction that the US will become even stronger when it works with Korea, when it works with Korea efficiently and maintains a proper partnership with Korea that is in line with the realities of the 2020s.' Reflecting on his past as a student activist during the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising and his education in the US, Kim said the two countries are bound by a shared democratic foundation, constitutional values, people-to-people exchanges and future technologies. 'What we have in common is the shared experience of people who understand the importance of a constitution. A country that values its constitution is one that shares the value of democracy,' he said. Kim also stressed long-standing cultural and human exchanges between the two countries, saying they are "deeply rooted to the level of assimilation.' Going forward, Kim laid out key industries for bilateral cooperation under the government's ABCDE strategy ― artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cultural content, defense and energy ― which Kim said he coined during the presidential campaign. 'Across all of these sectors, we are confident that we can develop a complementary relationship with the US together as we navigate the changing landscape of global economics and security.' Kim also raised the hope that US President Donald Trump could play a role in bringing North Korea back to the negotiating table and for peace on the Korean Peninsula, beyond resolving ongoing tariff issues. On tariffs, however, Kim remained optimistic, saying that "there is still a lot of time left" to find a resolution. 'There is a lot to do and a lot of issues," he said. "All will be sorted out when we look at the essence and the future of the issue." At the seminar, Joseph Yun, charge d'affaires at the US Embassy in Seoul, reiterated Washington's commitment to an 'ironclad alliance' with Seoul, grounded in defense, shared value and deep economic ties. Still, Yun pointed to the US' $1.2 trillion trade deficit last year and a projected $1.8 trillion fiscal deficit as reasons it seeks to see its allies take on greater responsibilities. 'These are enormous amounts and they must be reduced if we are to have balanced economic relations,' Yun said on the US trade deficits. The US is spending about $1 trillion in defense annually, and the deficit is not sustainable, added Yun. 'So the US is asking our allies to do more. This is a request to all NATO partners in Europe and also to all our allies in Asia, of course that includes South Korea, Japan and Australia.' In his opening remarks, James Kim, chair and CEO of AmCham, also touched on the ongoing tariff negotiations and the ways that the two countries can cooperate. 'As we navigate ongoing tariff negotiations between our two nations, we see tremendous opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation and advance shared economic goals,' said Kim, noting that member companies in shipbuilding, aerospace, energy and technology are leading the way in strengthening strategic partnership. 'At the same time we recognize the importance of addressing Korea's unique regulations in order to foster a more balanced and a sustainable trade dynamic industry,' he said. "As a result, we launched the AmCham 'Buy America' campaign in partnership with our member companies to enhance visibility and accessibility of US products.'
Korea Herald
18 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Iran says will not halt nuclear enrichment ahead of European talks
TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) -- Iran has no plans to abandon its nuclear program including uranium enrichment despite the "severe" damage caused by US strikes to its facilities, the country's foreign minister said ahead of renewed talks with European powers. Iran is scheduled to meet Britain, France and Germany in Istanbul on Friday, to discuss its nuclear program, with Tehran accusing European powers of scuppering a landmark 2015 nuclear deal. The meeting will be the first since Iran's 12-day war with Israel last month, during which the US carried out strikes against Tehran's nuclear facilities. For now, enrichment "is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier" on Monday. "But obviously we cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists," he continued, calling it a source of "national pride." US President Donald Trump responded to the comments on his platform Truth Social, saying Washington would carry out strikes again "if necessary." The 2015 agreement, reached between Iran and UN Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the US, plus Germany, imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. However, it unraveled in 2018 when the US, during Trump's first term, unilaterally withdrew and reimposed sweeping sanctions. Though Europe pledged continued support, a mechanism intended to offset US sanctions never effectively materialised, forcing many Western firms to exit Iran and deepening its economic crisis. "Iran holds the European parties responsible for negligence in implementing the agreement," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei ahead of Friday's talks in Istanbul on the deal's future. Iran will also host a trilateral meeting Tuesday with Chinese and Russian representatives to discuss the nuclear issue and potential sanctions. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing would "continue to play a constructive role in pushing relevant sides to restart dialogue and negotiations, and reach a solution that takes in account the legitimate concerns of all parties." In recent weeks, the three European powers have threatened to reimpose international sanctions on Tehran, accusing it of breaching its nuclear commitments. Germany said the Istanbul talks would be at the expert level, with the European trio, or E3, working "flat out" to find a sustainable and verifiable diplomatic solution. "If no solution is reached by the end of August ... the snapback also remains an option for the E3," said its Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Martin Giese. A clause in the 2015 agreement allows for UN sanctions on Iran to be reimposed through a "snapback" mechanism in the event of non-compliance. However, the agreement expires in October, leaving a tight deadline. The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed country currently enriching uranium to 60 percent -- far beyond the 3.67 percent cap set by the 2015 accord. That is a short step from the 90 percent enrichment required for a nuclear weapon. Using the snapback clause was "meaningless, unjustifiable and immoral," Baqaei told a news conference, arguing that Iran only began distancing itself from the agreement in response to Western non-compliance. "Iran's reduction of its commitments was carried out in accordance with the provisions outlined in the agreement," he said. Western powers -- led by the US and backed by Israel -- have long accused Tehran of secretly seeking nuclear weapons. Iran has repeatedly denied this, insisting its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes such as energy production. Tehran and Washington had held five rounds of nuclear talks starting in April, but a planned meeting on June 15 was cancelled after Israel launched strikes on Iran, triggering a 12-day conflict. "At this stage, we have no intention of speaking with America," Baqaei said Monday. Israel launched a wave of surprise strikes on its regional nemesis on June 13, targeting key military and nuclear facilities. The US launched its own strikes against Iran's nuclear program on June 22, hitting the uranium enrichment facility at Fordo, in Qom province south of Tehran, as well as nuclear sites in Isfahan and Natanz.
Korea Herald
20 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Vice minister reiterates efforts to minimize export risks amid US tariff uncertainties
The government will work to successfully conclude tariff negotiations with the United States to minimize risks for export companies, the first vice industry minister said Tuesday. "Our export companies are facing heightened uncertainties ahead of the imposition of US reciprocal tariffs on Aug. 1," First Vice Industry Minister Moon Shin-hak said in a meeting to review export trends. "During the remaining period, the government will make every effort to smoothly conclude tariff negotiations with the US in a way that maximizes national interest," he added, referring to the Aug. 1 deadline when the US will start imposing 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on South Korean products. South Korea's exports shrank 2.2 percent from a year earlier to $36.1 billion in the first 20 days of this month, data from the Korea Customs Service showed earlier. Outbound shipments to the US fell 2.1 percent on-year to $6.42 billion, weighed down by sweeping tariff measures by US President Donald Trump's administration. By item, steel exports dropped 9.7 percent to $2.39 billion, apparently affected by the administration's 50 percent tariffs on all steel imports. Exports of petroleum and petrochemical products slid 17.5 percent and 13.9 percent to $2.52 billion and $2.36 billion, respectively, amid a decline in global oil prices. On the other hand, exports of semiconductors increased 16.5 percent on-year to $7.89 billion, and auto exports expanded 3.9 percent to $3.63 billion.
