**Strengthening Security and Introducing AI, Translation/Interpretation, and Video Conferencing… Targeting Deployment by 2029 with an Investment of 117.8 Billion Won**
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Jung-hyun reports that the combined command and control system (AKJCCS), essential for ROK-U.S. joint operations, is set to be upgraded in preparation for the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) by 2029.
The AKJCCS is a system used to command and control ROK-U.S. joint operations on the Korean Peninsula and is being utilized in the upcoming “Ulchi Freedom Shield” (UFS) combined exercises starting mid-month.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on the 4th that they will invest 117.8 billion won from this year to 2029 to improve AKJCCS capabilities, ensuring effective joint operations led by South Korea after the OPCON transition. Companies will be selected to participate within the year.
The AKJCCS performance improvement project, which was last realized in 2015, marks its first upgrade in a decade, aiming for full deployment of the enhanced system by 2029.
The performance upgrade is expected to be equivalent to new development efforts.
The core improvements involve applying the latest technologies such as cloud-based server centers, desktop virtualization (VDI), and AI-based automation.
Considering the difficulties in real-time information sharing and communication due to language and cultural differences, automatic translation/interpretation and remote video conferencing systems will also be introduced.
Enhancing security features is a key task as well.
The U.S. has previously pointed out security vulnerabilities in AKJCCS developed by South Korea, stating difficulty in integration with the Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System-Korea (CENTRIXS-K) operated by the U.S. military.
However, without this integration, command and control over U.S. reinforcements to the Korean Peninsula in emergencies would be impossible, making security performance improvement a pressing issue.
The DAPA plans to comprehensively replace outdated equipment and apply the K-RMF (Korea’s Cyber Defense Risk Management Framework) to strengthen cybersecurity resilience through this project.
K-RMF, modeled after the U.S. RMF, is adapted to fit the Korean defense environment, aiming to preemptively predict and prevent cyber threats rather than responding after they occur. This project is the first to apply K-RMF from the weapon system development stage.
A DAPA official stated, “The AKJCCS performance improvement project is not merely about partially enhancing existing capabilities but is nearly equivalent to a new development,” adding, “We aim to successfully complete the development by effectively and reliably applying the latest technologies and policies.”