KAI, Samsung team up to develop AI chips for defense systems

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries has formed a strategic partnership with Samsung Electronics to develop next-generation semiconductors for defense applications.

KAI said Friday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung at its headquarters in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, to cooperate on the research, design and production of artificial intelligence and radio-frequency chips for aerospace and defense systems.

The companies plan to establish joint working groups and build a long-term technology roadmap that adapts advanced civilian semiconductor technology for use in military hardware.

The initiative is part of a broader effort by KAI to localize critical components used in weapon systems, from communications to sensors, amid rising geopolitical uncertainty and global supply-chain disruptions. Defense semiconductors require exceptional reliability and security standards, and the companies said they would prioritize meeting those demands while developing a more resilient supply base.

KAI said the partnership would expand over time to include a wider range of defense-focused chip technologies and broader ecosystem development.

“This strategic partnership with Samsung, a global leader in semiconductors, will be crucial for developing on-device AI semiconductors in the defense sector,” Cha Jae-byeong, KAI’s chief executive, said in a statement. “We aim to enhance South Korea’s defense industry and sovereign AI competitiveness.”

Han Jin-man, president of Samsung’s foundry division, said the agreement would help advance the localization of defense-grade AI chips while reinforcing the domestic semiconductor ecosystem.

* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.

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