Hanwha Systems has been selected to lead a major project to rebuild the core command and control system overseeing combined operations between South Korea and the United States. The initiative is expected to evolve into the first AI-based joint command system supporting Korean-led combined operations as the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) approaches.
Hanwha Systems announced that it has won the “Allied Korea Joint Command Control System (AKJCCS) Performance Upgrade and System Development” project promoted by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The total project value stands at KRW 93.7 billion, excluding VAT.
AKJCCS is a mission-critical system responsible for command and control of Korea–U.S. combined operations across the Korean Peninsula. First deployed in 2015, the system has faced growing demands for improved operational efficiency and enhanced security. In preparation for the OPCON transition and changes in the allied command structure, authorities decided to move beyond incremental upgrades and pursue a full-scale system redevelopment.
The performance upgrade project will introduce a wide range of advanced information and communications technologies. Key elements include AI-based situation analysis and automated decision-support functions, the establishment of a cloud-based server environment, and the application of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).
Notably, this marks the first time that artificial intelligence will be fully integrated into a domestic military command and control system. By rapidly collecting and analyzing vast amounts of battlefield data, AI is expected to significantly reduce operators’ workloads and provide intelligent support throughout the entire command decision-making process, from information analysis to operational planning. This capability is anticipated to enable faster and more accurate judgments in complex operational environments.
Given that military command and control systems require extensive interconnection across multiple communication networks and data sources, cybersecurity is a critical consideration. Leveraging its expertise in defense cybersecurity and ICT convergence, Hanwha Systems plans to build an advanced command and control system with strengthened information protection capabilities. The company draws on its experience in successfully delivering defense-specialized AI projects, including AI-based intelligent command decision-support systems.
A Hanwha Systems official said the contract award demonstrates renewed recognition of the company’s top-tier technological capabilities spanning both defense and ICT. The official added that Hanwha Systems will continue to expand its role as a core company leading future battlefields through advanced defense AI technologies.
Over the past four decades, Hanwha Systems has supplied the Korean military with a wide range of command, control, and intelligence systems. These include upgrades to the Master Control and Reporting Center (MCRC), the Korea–U.S. Military Information Management System-Combined (MIMS-C), the Korean Air and Missile Defense Operations Center (KAMDOC), the Battalion and Below Command System (B2CS), and the Military Intelligence Management System (MIMS), establishing the company as a leading player in Korea’s command, control, and communications sector.
