The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) and the Marine Corps have joined hands to conduct research and development on defense science and technology centered on electricity and power.

On the 20th, the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute signed an MOU with the Marine Corps at the Marine Corps Headquarters in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, and decided to promote joint planning of weapons system technology development and R&D projects.

Through this agreement, the Marine Corps plans to share with researchers the mid- to long-term acquisition direction for weapon systems and identify and promote research and development tasks.

The Electric Power Research Institute plans to help strengthen national defense capabilities based on science and technology by providing various technical advice and information to support the Marine Corps' operational performance.

In particular, as overcoming fog and lightning has emerged as important tasks when performing landing operations and surveillance and reconnaissance missions for the Marine Corps, KERI plans to apply ‘vision enhancement image processing technology’ to support clear visibility of structures even in bad weather.

Additionally, the company possesses technology to protect electronic devices and key facilities from electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks and lightning strikes, and plans to actively utilize this in Marine Corps operations.

Through this collaboration, the Electric Power Research Institute plans to transfer various technologies that can be utilized in the defense field to the Marine Corps.
> The key technologies include: △Counter-drone directed weapon technology, which is an advanced weapon system to respond to drone threats; △Hybrid electric propulsion technology for next-generation combat vehicles that develops combat vehicles with enhanced energy efficiency and mobility; △Gallium nitride-based high-power active array beam radiation technology that applies advanced radar and communication systems.

Marine Corps Commandant General Ju Il-seok expressed his expectations for the cooperation, saying, “We will be able to enhance the Marine Corps’ mission execution capabilities by utilizing cutting-edge electrical technology in the diversifying future battlefield environment.”

Kim Nam-gyun, president of the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, said, “As ‘electrification’ is accelerating in the defense and advanced weapons fields, the institute will actively contribute to strengthening the Marine Corps’ power.”

Meanwhile, the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) is a government-funded research institute under the National Research Council of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Science and ICT, conducting various electrical and electric power technology research and expanding technological support in various fields including national defense.