A Study on Suggestions for the U.S. Defense Acquisition Policy and the Republic of Korea's Space Weapon System Acquisition

The acquisition of Korea's space weapon systems is conducted through two primary methods: multi-ministry joint projects and military-exclusive projects. The multi-ministry joint project approach adheres to the procedures outlined in the Framework Act on Science and Technology and the Space Development Promotion Act. While this method aims to enhance budget efficiency and policy coordination through inter-ministerial collaboration, it is often hindered by delays during consultations and challenges in aligning performance requirements. Additionally, the pursuit of national defense space projects frequently encounters confusion regarding applicable laws and administrative burdens due to overlapping procedures.On the other hand, military-exclusive projects, governed by the Defense Acquisition Program Act and the Defense Power Advancement Work Directive, enable efficient project management. However, the additional regulations and procedures required under the Space Development Promotion Act slow the progress of such projects. These structural issues pose significant constraints on Korea's ability to rapidly develop its space weapon system capabilities within the defense industry.This study aims to propose improvements to Korea's space weapon system acquisition structure by analyzing advanced acquisition policies in the United States and deriving relevant implications. To this end, it examines the U.S. Adaptive Acquisition Framework (AAF) and Other Transaction Authorities (OTA) for their potential applicability to Korea's context. Additionally, it explores the acquisition procedures of the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the space weapon system acquisition principles and Space Acquisition Council of the U.S. Department of the Air Force.As a key implication for Korea, this study suggests dividing the acquisition process into two distinct procedures: system projects and core technology projects. For system projects, it recommends adopting the U.S. AAF framework to enable military-exclusive acquisition projects to flexibly adapt and integrate procedures in response to specific situations, thereby ensuring swift implementation. For core technology projects, it advocates leveraging the DIU's model of public-private collaboration to pursue dual-use technology development and acquisition in a more flexible and cooperative manner.