[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyun-ah ] SKTelecom(017670)SK Telecom unveiled defense technologies utilizing AI and communications at the Ground Forces Festival. The company introduced technologies for future battlefields, including an “AI Staff Officer” that analyzes battlefield data to assist commanders’ decision-making, as well as low-Earth orbit satellite-based communications and quantum cryptography.

SKTelecom announced on the 6th that it participated as the sole private-sector company in the “2026 Ground Forces Festival,” held from the 1st to the 5th at the Gyeryongdae airstrip in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province. Organized by the Army Headquarters, the Ground Forces Festival is a military cultural festival that showcases the Army’s cutting-edge technologies and future combat systems.

The most notable technology at this exhibition is the “AI Staff Officer.” Simply put, it is a system where AI collects the flood of information from the battlefield and organizes the situation.

For example, assuming there is video footage captured by drones, information collected by surveillance equipment, and reports coming in from various units, the AI gathers this information in one place. It then compares how different pieces of information are related to determine what is currently happening on the battlefield.

It then recreates the current situation in a virtual space. This approach allows commanders to assess how the situation might evolve in an environment similar to the actual battlefield, thereby providing them with the information needed to make operational decisions.

The technologies that make this process possible are data platforms, ontologies, and digital twins. The data platform gathers various types of information, while the ontology establishes relationships between different pieces of information. The digital twin displays this aggregated information in a virtual space that closely resembles the actual battlefield.

Consequently, the role of an AI staff officer is to aggregate various sources of information—such as drone footage, surveillance data, and reports—and present a consolidated overview of the current situation, rather than requiring the commander to review each piece of information individually.

On future battlefields, the number of drones, robots, and various sensors is expected to increase, leading to a significant rise in the volume of real-time information. The AI staff officer is designed to quickly analyze this scattered information to assist commanders in assessing the situation and making decisions.

In the fields of communications and security, technologies such as low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based communications, quantum cryptography, and stealth Wi-Fi were introduced. These technologies are designed to maintain communications and protect transmitted information even in environments where ground-based communication networks are difficult to access.

On future battlefields where various assets—such as AI, drones, and robots—are interconnected, the stability and security of communication networks are also critical. SKTelecom proposed a plan to integrate satellite, wired and wireless network, and security technologies into the Army’s future combat system, “Army TIGER+.”

Companies specializing in AI, satellites, networks, and security—including SK Telink, TechTree Innovation, Enhance, Mercury Corporation, KCS CORPORATION, and Pablo Aviation—also participated in the exhibition. SKTelecom plans to expand its AX business in the defense sector in collaboration with these companies.

Kim Gu-young, Head of the Enterprise Division at SKTelecom, stated, “On future battlefields, AI—which rapidly analyzes vast amounts of information to support decision-making—and the stable, secure communications infrastructure that underpins it will become increasingly important.” He added, “We will expand our defense AX business by developing solutions that apply AI and communications technologies to the defense sector.”