Strategic Defense Innovation: Israel and South Korea’s Technological Partnership
DefenseTech is hot and so are global conflicts. Israel and South Korea, two innovative nations, are fellow travellers on the journey of ensuring their national security in the face of unexpected threats. This remains more true than ever, as geopolitical winds continue to blow. An emerging alliance has grown into a real partnership, powered by the hi-tech, defense and investment sectors.
The Israel-South Korea defense partnership has evolved from basic procurement relationships in the 1990s into a sophisticated technological alliance that is reshaping modern defense frameworks. Today, it encompasses joint ventures, co-production, collaborative R&D, innovation funding mechanisms and ROI-oriented funds such as the Trepont Fund launched by Israeli VC firm OurCrowd and Korean NH Ventures. This fund connects Israeli, Korean and U.S. tech startups, with significant implications for AI, cybersecurity and defense technology.
The Israeli-Korean collaboration thrives on complementary strengths: South Korea’s expertise in precision manufacturing and advanced robotics combines seamlessly with Israel’s leadership in AI, UAV systems and cyber operations. Together, they have unlocked powerful potential for integrating autonomous systems and AI into next-generation defense technologies.
Both countries have traditional defense giants and hi-tech startups in the sector, and Israel, in particular, has also spawned the growth of security-related startups in AI, cyber, DefenseTech and semiconductors. As to defense giants, Israel’s leaders include Elbit ($6.8B revenues 2024), IAI ($6.1B rev. 2024) and Rafael ($4.8B rev. 2024). These have led to many types of weapons and protection systems, but most famously to anti-missile innovation like the Iron Dome and, soon, its laser-powered cousin, the Iron Beam. In Korea, major defense companies such as Hanwha Aerospace (~$7.8B rev. 2024), KAI (~$2.5B rev. 2024) and LIG Nex1 (~$2.3B rev. 2024) have focused on a wide range of systems, including missiles, tanks, aircraft and drones.
The countries have a history of working together on strategic projects. One of the earliest milestones in autonomous systems integration was the 2017 joint venture between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Hankuk Carbon, which established Korea Aviation Technologies (KAT) to develop vertical takeoff and landing UAVs. In 2021, Elbit Systems and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) formalized their collaboration on unmanned airborne intelligence, surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance systems. That same year, KAI and IAI teamed up to advance loitering munitions, aiming to maximize strike mission effectiveness against enemy air defenses.
The Israeli–Korean partnership extends into innovative AI security solutions through well-established frameworks. The Korea-Israel Industrial R&D Foundation, initiated in 2001, has played a pivotal role in funding joint research projects. Since 2022, both nations have collectively contributed $8M annually to foster initiatives with a strong focus on AI and semiconductor technologies. In 2023, Korea and Israel signed deals to make joint investments worth around $18M in robot and artificial intelligence projects. Among the deals, Korea’s Everybot and Israel’s Inuitive agreed upon an $8.2M joint project for AI-based robot platforms.
Cybersecurity is another critical domain of cooperation. In May 2023, the Israeli High-Tech Association signed an agreement with the Korea Information Security Industry Association to bolster cybersecurity collaboration. South Korea’s 2024 National Cybersecurity Strategy emphasizes transitioning from a defensive to an offensive cybersecurity posture, highlighting infrastructure resilience and emerging technology integration. With Israel accounting for nearly 50% of global venture investment in cybersecurity, this partnership holds immense potential.
South Korea has also shown interest in Israeli intrusion detection systems, such as the electro-optical Sky Spotter drone detection system developed in Israel by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. This interest has been fueled by North Korean drone incursions, the first of which was reported in 2014. The most significant incident occurred in December 2022, when North Korean drones breached South Korean airspace, disrupting operations at major airports and prompting military action to intercept them. Perhaps, not surprisingly, in January 2023, Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that the Korean military was considering the purchase of the Sky Spotter to bolster its capabilities to detect small North Korean drones.
Future Security Paradigms
The strategic trajectory of this partnership suggests substantial investment in quantum-resistant cryptographic systems, robust directed energy platforms, and secure AI-powered autonomous systems. Emerging technologies like autonomous maritime systems are a natural offshoot of Korea’s well-established shipbuilding industry, and space-based defense innovations such as the Israeli Iron Beam are poised to fundamentally transform military operations in the coming decades.
As regional security threats intensify — be it North Korea’s sophisticated cyber operations against South Korea or common threats of ballistic missiles — this collaboration is fortifying the resilience of the technology supply chain. The integration of Israeli cyber innovation with South Korean engineering excellence establishes a powerful blueprint for securing next-generation defense technologies. By implementing continuous monitoring systems, developing adaptive threat detection, and investing in advanced authentication technologies, this partnership lays the groundwork for secure AI-driven warfare capabilities that maintain operational integrity in contested environments.
This comprehensive “security by design” approach positions both nations at the cutting edge of trusted autonomous systems for modern military applications, while addressing the complex vulnerability management challenges inherent in advanced defense technologies.
