SME Defense Companies to Jointly Utilize GPUs... Discussions for Establishing Defense-Specialized AIDC Gain Momentum

Discussions have begun in earnest to establish a defense-specialized AI Data Center (AIDC) that allows defense companies to jointly utilize high-performance computing resources required for artificial intelligence (AI) development while protecting military secrets and core technologies. The plan is to increase accessibility for small and medium-sized defense companies that find it difficult to secure individual AI infrastructure and to connect domestic AI semiconductors and clouds to the defense industry.

Park Sunwon and Huh Sung-moo of the Democratic Party of Korea held the 'Launch Ceremony for the Public-Private-Academic Defense AIDC Council for a K-Defense AX Leap' at the National Assembly Library's main auditorium on the 17th. The event, organized by Myongji University and Changshin University, was attended by representatives from the National Assembly, government, military, defense companies, cloud companies, and universities.

The council is a permanent policy platform that discusses methods for constructing and operating dedicated infrastructure where AI development, training, and verification are possible while protecting defense data. It serves to connect challenges raised in the field to government policies and National Assembly legislation.

In the defense industry, the scope of AI and data utilization is expanding beyond weapon system research and development to production, maintenance, and even exports. However, due to the nature of an industry dealing with military secrets and core technologies, there are significant constraints on using general commercial clouds. It also requires substantial costs for individual companies to build high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs) and security facilities.

In particular, for small and medium-sized defense companies lacking funds and professional personnel, such burdens act as a barrier to entry that hinders AI transformation. The council plans to develop a defense-specialized AIDC shared-use model where companies can jointly use computing resources and data that meet security requirements.

The council will be composed of five subcommittees: △Systems △Talent Cultivation △Defense Demand △Technology/Infrastructure △Security. Each subcommittee will discuss topics such as defense data utilization standards, professional talent training, discovery of corporate demand, AIDC construction technology, and the establishment of security systems.

For example, Nota AI, an AI semiconductor and solution startup, will provide products based on domestic AI semiconductors and AI solutions in the Technology/Infrastructure subcommittee. Through this, they plan to support the construction of a 'Sovereign Defense AIDC' that processes defense data using domestic technology and infrastructure.

Participants in this council include defense companies such as KAI, Hanwha, Korean Air, STX Engine, Firstec, and Huneed Technologies, as well as information technology companies such as kt cloud, NHN Cloud, and LG CNS. The Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, Defense Integrated Data Center, and National Security Research Institute, are also listed as participating institutions.

The council plans to detail the center's construction funding, operating entities, usage methods for each company, and data security standards through subcommittee discussions in the future.

Park Sunwon stated, "The sustainable competitiveness of K-Defense will not be maintained by the power of manufacturing and exports alone; AI transformation will determine success or failure. The Defense AIDC is not a project to build a building, but a foundation for a virtuous cycle where data is safely learned and applied in the field to return as export competitiveness."

She continued, "We will fulfill the responsibility of the National Assembly to ensure that trust comes before speed, and systems come before slogans, so that the needs of the field lead to policy and legislation."