S. Korea to expand defense R&D budget by 2022

SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will increase the research and development (R&D) budget for joint defense technology cooperation between civilians and military to facilitate concerted efforts to develop high-tech arms equipment and systems, the commerce ministry said Friday.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said the basic plan on the joint defense technology development was confirmed in a national science committee, which would raise its R&D budget from 134.3 billion won (US$124.3 million) in 2017 to about 200 billion won by 2022.

The budget is aimed at boosting development for advanced defense technologies that use robotics, drones, artificial intelligence and 3-D technologies.

Under the plan, defense and civilian institutes will be able to share basic technologies and patents at the R&D stage and facilitate joint projects, the ministry said.

"Civilian-military defense technology cooperation has become ever more important to develop new technologies and implement (new equipment) in the battlefield," the ministry said in a release. "We will lower high barriers between the military and civilian sectors, which have been maintained for security reasons."

ejkim@yna.co.kr
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