The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (hereinafter referred to as the Defense Acquisition Agency) announced a major reform plan in June of last year to hand over the general weapon system R&D project of the Defense Science Research Institute (ADD) to the defense industry. This is the so-called 'ADD restructuring', an adjustment plan for the leading R&D organization. ADD focuses on research and development of advanced technologies that can be hit globally, secret technology among secrets, and non-wing technology that does not make immediate profits but has great growth potential. The idea is to enhance the competitiveness of ADD and defense companies at the same time. The DAPA described this as "a policy that pursues a 'first mover' by breaking away from the 'smart second-class strategy'.
It was very ambitious. The DAPA, ADD, and companies discussed it a lot, and the person in charge of the DAPA and ADD explained it sufficiently to reporters. It was also reported to the Defense Project Promotion Committee, the highest body for decision-making on weapons systems. At the end of last year, it was confirmed that high-ranking officials of ADD personally visited the company and encouraged them to participate in the general weapons development project. It was interpreted as a will to carry out irreversible reforms. Concerns about the company's relatively low technological maturity, rising development costs, and extended development period were dismissed as betrayal and betrayal of defense science reform.
In the second half of this year, suddenly, there are signs of abnormality. A month or two ago, the high-ranking and key officials of the DAPA started to say embarrassingly that "the adjustment of the R&D agency has never been decided". Repeatedly explaining to the media, passing the Defense Project Promotion Committee,It is an issue that even led companies to participate, but it is very disappointing that it has not been decided.
It means that the reform that changed the basic defense science policy by 180 degrees last year with difficulty will be reversed by 180 degrees.
It is a confession that ADD will take charge of all general weapons, advanced and secret technologies as before, and settle for second place in the smartest.
In other words, we will not reform ADD.
At the end of the regime, it is best to avoid falling leaves, but I asked the Bangsa Agency why it is acting so radically.
The answers given by the Bangsa Agency were absurd, such as "I gave a wrong explanation to the reporters last year" and "There was a misunderstanding in communication."
DA, why are you like this?
I hope that it is not a trick for the profit of any organization or individual.
Fierce debates from last year
ADD has developed all domestic weapons.
Whether it was done alone or with a company, the overall responsibility for domestic weapon R&D was ADD.
Coordination of R&D leading organizations is for the selection and concentration of defense science R&D.
As ADD's research burden is too heavy, ADD is a plan to go all-in on research and development of top-secret secret technology focused on cutting-edge technology that seeks the best in the world and the elimination of North Korean nuclear weapons, and leave the rest of general weapon system research and development to companies.
This is the result of intense discussions between the DAPA, ADD, and companies.
According to the position data of the DAPA as of July 2, last year, from September of last year, the DAPA and ADD TF were operated centered on the head of the base power business division of the DAPA and the head of the ADD research and planning department.
In January last year, the head of the TF was promoted to the deputy director of the DAPA, and it was operated for another 5 months.
During this period, TF meetings between the DAPA and ADD were held 10 times.
Separately, from September of last year to April of last year, seven meetings were held between the Defense Agency, ADD, and defense companies.
The ADD director and the deputy director of the DAPA often attended to exchange opinions with the company.
The DAPA is in the position that it has gone through the process of discussion and public debate sufficiently.
If the DAPA, ADD, and defense companies put their heads together like this, it was enough to discuss the adjustment plan of the governing body.
The DAPA and ADD like this...
As a result of intense discussions, the R&D organization coordination plan was established, so the DAPA and ADD's policy promotion stance were firm. At the briefing of the Ministry of National Defense reporters on June 25 last year, Kang Eun-ho (then deputy chief) said, "In order to have (defense science) technology and export competitiveness commensurate with the world's 6th and 7th military power, it is not a 'smart 2nd place strategy', even if it is a little difficult. You have to move as a 'first mover'", "Even if you fail, you have to put (ADD's manpower) into really difficult technology", "To do that, the R&D of general weapon systems is handed over to the company, and the ADD researchers are really difficult core technologies and sources. We want to put it into technology,” he said.
At the same time, ADD Director Nam Se-gyu, who was at the same seat, opened his mouth, saying, "We proposed it first" about the coordination of the organizer. He said, "In order to do that (high-tech and private focus), it is impossible with the ADD manpower, so I came here after making an agreement with the defense industry and the DAPA since last year to boldly transfer the general weapon system to the private sector."
A day later, on June 26, last year, the plan to adjust the R&D organization was reported to the 128th Defense Project Promotion Committee presided over by the Defense Minister. In fact, it is decided by policy. Of the eight R&D projects hosted by ADD, four were prioritized over the Korean vertical launch system, light torpedo performance improvement, 130mm guided rockets, and long-range air-to-ground missiles.
In a press release, the DAPA said, "The structure of R&D for ADD and manufacturing and mass production for the private sector (defense company) has reached the limit", "Due to rapid technological change and a rapidly changing security environment, ADD's research capabilities are researched on new technologies and core technologies. The reorganization of the defense R&D system, which focuses on security and security projects, has become an urgent issue that cannot be postponed any longer,” he said.
Concerning the concern that the development period and cost may increase due to the lack of technology of the company, "Follow-up consultations with related organizations such as ADD, technology consultation (technology service, technology transfer/support, etc.) and business (cost) analysis for each individual project are recommended. We plan to minimize the increase in demand through In fact, until the first half of this year, technical consultations and business analysis for each business were conducted to minimize the increase in development period and cost.
When the year changes, it changes
No one doubted.
ADD was dedicated to research and development of advanced and secret weapons, and it seemed to be a blueprint for North Korea as well as advanced military countries to develop new weapons that would surprise North Korea, and defense companies to mass-produce general weapons to expand the export market.
Among the companies, Hanwha Corporation, which has been focusing on the defense industry since the beginning of the government, drew attention.
According to the industry, ADD Director Nam Se-gyu and ADD general manager at the time visited Hanwha in person at the end of last year and encouraged them to participate in research and development of long-range air-to-surface missiles and guided rockets.
The ADD general manager level was known as Park Jong-seung, the current director.
A strange rumor has been circulating since this summer.
ADD is developing the weapon systems that the Defense Project Promotion Committee decided to conduct research and development led by the company in June last year.
I couldn't believe what happened last year, so I asked the DAPA, and the DAPA's first response was, surprisingly, "There is no decision on R&D conducted by the company" and "There is no content related to the adjustment of the host organization in the press release as a result of the Defense Project Promotion Committee."
On the morning of June 26, last year, when the 128th Defense Project Promotion Committee was held, the DAPA issued a separate press release explaining the adjustment plan of the host organization, but they forgot that too.
The DAPA side was taken aback for a moment, and then responded with a blunt response, "I don't think I could clearly explain that the plan for the project has not been decided."
In June of last year, there were articles pouring out that the company had decided to conduct R&D, but the DAPA said, "I think I misunderstood the reporters at that time" and "There was a misunderstanding in communication."
So, what will happen to companies such as Hanwha Corporation, who believe in the results of the Defense Project Promotion Committee and started developing long-range air-to-ground missiles and guided rockets? In about half a year, there were 17 discussions between the DAPA, ADD, and companies, and in July of last year, the DAPA's admission data also stated that "If the ADD-led long-range air-to-surface missile search and development is successful, the company will take over and develop the system." ADD 1st and 2nd person visited Hanwha Co., Ltd. and asked them to participate in system development, and now there is talk that ADD is doing it again. A key Hanwha official said, "We haven't received an official notice yet," and said, "The policy is suddenly changing after a few months, and the company has no choice but to follow the government's policy."
In what ways does ADD do research and development of high-tech, non-tech and general weapons at the same time? It is read to mean that the R&D of high-tech, secret, and general weapons will all be rough. Were the statements of the head of the DAPA and the head of ADD, which were officially made while promoting the R&D organization coordination plan, were nonsense to the public?
It is very difficult to understand the current situation in which a policy that has been pursued without regard to any opposition is suddenly turned 180 degrees in the chaotic presidential election phase at the end of the regime and is reversed. It cannot be explained with common sense. It is presumed that there is some hidden reason that cannot be confided. I just hope that it is not a matter of pursuing the private interests of a specific institution or individual. It is easy to guess what the DA will say in the future. The puzzle is a bit complicated, but I'll try to solve it one by one through this interview file.