Report on Indigenous Radar Technology Development and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) has successfully developed and localized core radar stealth technologies, marking a significant advancement in South Korea’s technological sovereignty and defense capabilities. This initiative, encompassing the creation of proprietary design software and an advanced evaluation system, directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of innovation, infrastructure, economic growth, and institutional strength. This report outlines the technological achievements and analyzes their alignment with the global sustainability framework.

Technological Breakthroughs in Radar Stealth Systems

KRISS has overcome significant barriers related to the acquisition of strategic military assets by developing two pivotal technologies entirely in-house. This achievement eliminates reliance on foreign suppliers and circumvents restrictive import regulations, fostering national self-sufficiency.

Key Innovations Developed by KRISS

1. Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) Design Software: A proprietary tool that leverages artificial intelligence and parallel computation. This innovation accelerates the design process for complex radome structures by over fifty times compared to conventional methods, contributing to rapid and cost-effective research and development.
2. Electromagnetic Wave Evaluation System: An AI-enhanced testing platform for radomes. This system reduces the performance assessment duration for defense-grade components by more than five times, streamlining the path from development to operational deployment and significantly lowering associated costs.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The development of indigenous radar technology by KRISS is a powerful example of national progress that aligns with key SDGs. The project’s impact extends beyond defense, fostering a robust ecosystem of innovation and skilled industry.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

This initiative is a direct contribution to building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation.

• Fostering Domestic Innovation: The creation of proprietary software and testing systems from the ground up enhances South Korea’s scientific research and technological capabilities (Target 9.5).
• Reducing Technological Dependency: By localizing critical technology, the project supports domestic technology development and reduces reliance on foreign markets, strengthening the national industrial base (Target 9.b).
• Upgrading Technological Infrastructure: The development provides advanced tools for both military and civilian industries, including mobility, maritime, and aerospace, thereby upgrading national technological infrastructure.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

By strengthening national defense capabilities through technological independence, this project contributes to the development of effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at the national level.

• Strengthening National Institutions: The success of KRISS reinforces its role as a key national institution capable of addressing strategic challenges, contributing to national security and stability (Target 16.a).
• Promoting National Sovereignty: Indigenous development ensures that the nation has control over its critical defense systems, a cornerstone of maintaining peace and sovereignty.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The project stimulates long-term economic growth through high-tech industrial development and diversification.

• Promoting High-Value Industries: The technology transfer to Korea Electrotechnology Research (KER) and its potential commercial applications foster growth in high-productivity sectors (Target 8.2).
• Creating High-Skilled Employment: The research, development, and industrial application of these technologies create and sustain decent work for highly skilled engineers, scientists, and technicians.

Strategic and Commercial Implications

Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property

The formal transfer of these technologies to Korea Electrotechnology Research (KER) for a sum of 500 million KRW marks a successful transition from research to industrial application. Furthermore, KRISS has filed patents to protect its intellectual property, ensuring a sustained competitive advantage for South Korea in the global defense and technology markets. This strategic management of innovation aligns with sustainable economic practices by securing future value from research investments.

Broader Applications and Future Outlook

While conceived for defense, the innovations have significant potential for dual-use applications. Dr. Hong Young-Pyo, Head of the Electromagnetic Wave Metrology Group at KRISS, highlighted potential uses in civilian sectors:

• Mobility and Autonomous Vehicles
• Maritime Navigation Systems
• Aerospace and Satellite Communications

This versatility promises to drive further innovation and economic diversification, reinforcing the project’s contribution to sustainable industrial growth (SDG 9).

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire text focuses on a significant technological innovation—the indigenous development of radar stealth technologies by the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS). The article details the creation of new industrial capabilities, such as the “Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) design software and an electromagnetic wave evaluation system for radomes,” which strengthens South Korea’s technological infrastructure and reduces reliance on foreign imports. This directly aligns with fostering innovation and building resilient infrastructure.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article is framed within the context of national security and military autonomy. The development is described as a “foundational stone for the establishment of stealth weapon systems in Korea” to address “strict import regulations due to national security concerns.” By developing these technologies, KRISS, a strong national institution, is contributing to the nation’s sovereignty and defense capabilities. This relates to the goal of building effective and capable institutions at all levels to ensure stability and security.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The technological advancement described has clear economic implications. The article mentions breaking “the cycle of dependency on high-cost tools,” referencing foreign software costing over “KRW 100 million.” The development of domestic technology creates high-value intellectual property, evidenced by the filing of patents and a technology transfer valued at “500 million KRW.” Furthermore, the potential application of these technologies in commercial sectors like “mobility, maritime navigation, and aerospace” points towards economic diversification and growth driven by technological upgrading.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

1. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors… encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers… and public and private research and development spending.
   • The article is a case study of this target in action. KRISS, a national research institute, has conducted “rigorous collaborative research across four distinct KRISS research groups” to upgrade the nation’s technological capabilities in a strategic sector. The publication of findings in the “IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques” further underscores the focus on enhancing scientific research.
2. Target 9.b: Support domestic technology development, research and innovation… including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities.
   • The article’s central theme is the achievement of “indigenous development” and creating technologies that are “entirely developed using domestic technology.” This directly supports the goal of domestic technology development to overcome foreign dependency and “strict import regulations.”

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions… for building capacity at all levels…
   • The article highlights the strengthening of KRISS as a national institution by successfully developing and transferring critical defense technology. This builds national capacity for self-reliance in security matters, “harmonizing innovation with national sovereignty.” The technology transfer to another national body, Korea Electrotechnology Research (KER), further demonstrates the strengthening of institutional frameworks.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

1. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation…
   • The development of AI-powered software that “dramatically enhances design speed—by more than fifty times” and a testing system that is “over five times faster” are direct examples of achieving higher productivity through technological innovation. The potential expansion into non-military sectors also points to economic diversification.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it provides several quantitative and qualitative data points that can serve as proxies to measure progress.

For SDG 9 Targets (9.5 & 9.b):

• Number of new domestic technologies developed: The article specifies two pivotal innovations: the FSS design software and the electromagnetic wave evaluation system.
• Investment in technology transfer: The technology transfer was valued at 500 million KRW, indicating the economic value of the research.
• Number of patents filed: The article states that KRISS “has sought to protect its intellectual property by filing patents for the design software and the measurement technologies.”
• Number of scientific publications: A research article was published in the “esteemed IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques,” a measure of research quality and dissemination.
• Reduction in reliance on foreign technology: The development is explicitly meant to eliminate reliance on foreign solutions, a key qualitative indicator of success.

For SDG 16 Target (16.a):

• Number of inter-institutional collaborations: The project involved “collaborative research across four distinct KRISS research groups” and a formal technology transfer to another national institute (KER).
• Establishment of new national capabilities: South Korea now has the domestic capability for the entire process “from design and prototyping to performance testing” of these components.

For SDG 8 Target (8.2):

• Productivity improvement metrics: The new software enhances design speed by “more than fifty times,” and the new evaluation system makes testing “over five times faster.”
• Cost savings from innovation: The domestic software helps avoid the high cost of commercial licenses, which can be “over KRW 100 million (approximately USD 75,000) for individual licenses.”

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bioengineer.org