South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) unveiled on Tuesday a comprehensive strategy to reduce the military’s reliance on foreign semiconductors. By 2030, the agency aims to establish the nation as a self-reliant producer of military-grade chips, addressing a critical vulnerability in its defense supply chain.

Despite being a global semiconductor powerhouse and its emergence as a major defense exporter, the nation depends almost entirely on imported chips to power advanced weapons systems, from fighter jets to unmanned drones.

This dependency exposes South Korea to geopolitical risks, particularly as semiconductors become increasingly intertwined with national security concerns.

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