Top officials from US defense tech firm Anduril in Seoul for partnership talks, office launch

The logo of Anduril is displayed during the 55th edition of the International Paris Air Show at the Paris-Le Bourget Airport, north of Paris, June 19. AFP-Yonhap

Officials from U.S. defense technology company Anduril Industries Inc. are visiting South Korea this week to discuss potential partnerships with local defense firms and commemorate the opening of the company's new office in Seoul, government and industry sources said Wednesday.

Palmer Luckey, co-founder of Anduril, and the company's global team, have arrived in Seoul for meetings with South Korean defense and aerospace companies, as well as government officials, according to the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The company plans to hold a formal event at a hotel in Seoul on Thursday to mark the launch of its local office. Officials from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and key domestic defense firms are expected to attend.

"Anduril is gaining traction in the United States as an emerging defense tech company, and while it is not yet in full-scale operation here, this visit represents an early step toward building a network in South Korea following the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in April," a government source said.

In April, DAPA signed an MOU with Anduril to pursue joint research and development in next-generation unmanned combat systems, as part of South Korea's broader push to enhance its future-oriented defense capabilities.

As part of its expansion strategy, Anduril also signed separate MOUs with Korean Air, LIG Nex1 and HD Hyundai in South Korea to explore collaboration on artificial intelligence (AI)-driven and unmanned defense platforms.

Another defense industry source familiar with the visit noted that Anduril is "recognized as a rising force in the fields of AI and unmanned defense systems," which are increasingly aligned with South Korea's long-term military modernization goals.

Founded in 2017, Anduril has drawn attention for its software-first approach to defense development. The company is known for its AI-powered mission control systems, as well as its autonomous surveillance and reconnaissance technologies.

Anduril currently supplies systems to the U.S. Navy, the Department of Defense and the Australian military.

In a statement sent to Yonhap News Agency, DAPA said it will work to promote defense cooperation in the private sector under the MOU it signed with the U.S. company.

"Under the MOU signed with Anduril in April, DAPA aims to facilitate and promote industry-to-industry cooperation opportunities, primarily through business-to-business partnerships," the agency said in the statement regarding the visit by Anduril officials.