S. Korea creates domestic guidelines on NATO standards to help boost defense exports

Seoul, on August 24, the South Korean defense agency announced new guidelines to assist defense firms in adhering to NATO standards for arms exports, according to Yonhap. These regulations will enable defense companies, research institutions and associated government entities to obtain NATO military specifications via the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

This will simplify the process, which previously required each company to handle requirements individually. To sell military gear, like the K9 self-propelled howitzers and K2 main battle tanks, to NATO countries, South Korean businesses must build, scrutinize, and certify their products in line with NATO specifications to ensure compatibility.

Prior to the guidelines, the lack of a unified legal path or framework for standardization often resulted in bureaucratic delays in defense exports to the NATO alliance. Under the new framework, DAPA will directly acquire unclassified standards from NATO's online database and share them with contractors. For classified standards, DAPA will seek NATO's approval.

The guidelines aim to establish an institutional channel to ensure strict compliance with NATO standards, encompassing equipment specifications as well as security protocols, said DAPA Minister Kim Yong-cheol. By implementing these guidelines, the agency believes it will streamline and organize the provision of NATO standards to defense entities, thereby facilitating their entry into the NATO defense market, including arms sales and international joint R&D endeavors, Kim added.