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.