On April 28, a meeting was held at KITECH KAMIC in Siheung to discuss U.S.-ROK defense additive manufacturing co-production cooperation. The meeting was attended by Dr. Nelson Williams, Director of the Indo-Pacific Regional Sustainment Framework (RSF) under the U.S. Department of War Office of Product Support (OSW-PS), along with key officials from U.S. Forces Korea and the U.S. Department of War.
A total of 27 U.S. participants, including field-grade officers and civilian officials from organizations such as the U.S. Eighth Army and the KC-135 Program Office, joined the visit.
The visit was organized to explore practical pathways for enhancing AM interoperability between the ROK and the U.S. and establishing a more resilient supply system for defense parts.
During the meeting, U.S. officials received a briefing on Korea’s defense AM ecosystem, which KITECH KAMIC has developed in collaboration with domestic institutions and companies. Based on this discussion, both sides also exchanged views on the concept of establishing a Regional Sustainment Hub (RSH) in Korea.
Following the meeting, the delegation toured the center’s manufacturing facilities to review the technical capabilities required for AM-enabled parts production and supply. The tour showcased the center’s one-stop infrastructure, covering workforce training, metal and polymer additive manufacturing, post-processing, and material property evaluation. Participants also had the opportunity to examine several aerospace and defense components that had successfully passed rigorous verification requirements.
KITECH KAMIC will continue to serve as a bridge for U.S.-ROK defense AM cooperation and provide support to help Korea’s AM capabilities become a key asset in the global defense supply chain.
