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Korean Agency for Defense Development

KR

국방과학연구소

The Korean Agency for Defense Development (ADD) is South Korea's national agency for research and development in defense technology, established in 1970. Funded by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), its purpose is to contribute to national defense, improve national R&D capacity, and foster the domestic defense industry. ADD focuses on developing core weapons systems, advanced technologies, and major weapons platforms, collaborating with South Korean defense companies, industries, academia, research institutes, and the military. The agency is also involved in projects for civil-military technological cooperation.

gov defenseFounded 1970
History · 1 eventJan 1, 2006 · DAPA formed from MND procurement/ADD/QA functions
South Korea
www.add.re.kr/eps
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All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

The Falcon 9 mission included one satellite for South Korea's Agency for Defense Development and 17 other companies.

RelationshipsGeneralValue 4.0Nov 6, 2025Florida Space Coast doubleader: SpaceX launches, ULA scrubbed

On Sunday at 1:09 a.m., SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 for a ride-share mission of one satellite for South Korea's Agency for Defense Development and 17 other companies into low-Earth orbit.

GeneralPlanValue 4.2Nov 5, 2025Florida Space Coast set to break yearly launch record this week

Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) launched the fourth SAR satellite in the Korea 425 Project constellation during the mission.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Nov 3, 2025Latest News

The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) have led the $970,000,000 425 project as primary contractors.

RelationshipsValue 4.0Apr 11, 2022South Korea hires SpaceX to launch five spy satellites by 2025

Under technical assistance from Thales Alenia Space, the Agency for Defense Development worked with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Systems to develop the four SAR satellites.

CapabilityRelationshipsValue 4.0Apr 11, 2022South Korea hires SpaceX to launch five spy satellites by 2025

The Agency for Defense Development signed a contract with SpaceX to use the Falcon 9 rocket for subsequent South Korean spy satellite launches through the 2025 target year.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.6Apr 10, 2022S. Korea To Launch Spy Satellite Via SpaceX

The Agency for Defense Development developed the Hyunmoo ballistic and cruise missiles, the Anasis-2 military communications satellite, and an active electronically scanned array radar.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0May 10, 2021South Korea’s space agency sets sight on missions that ‘won’t pay off until 2050’
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