SK Telecom shows “AI staff officer” for battlefield decisions at Army festival
In short
SK Telecom presented an AI operations-support system called “AI staff officer,” along with low-earth-orbit satellite communications and security technology, at the 2026 Ground Forces Festival held Oct. 1–5 at the Gyeryongdae runway in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong. The company said it was the only private company taking part in the Army Headquarters-run event. SK Telecom said it plans to expand its defense “AX” business using its AI and communications technology.
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SK Telecom exhibited an AI operations-support system called “AI staff officer” and related communications and security technology at the 2026 Ground Forces Festival, the company said on Oct. 6. The festival, run by Army Headquarters, was held from Oct. 1 to Oct. 5 at the Gyeryongdae runway in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong, and introduced the Army’s current and future combat systems to the public. SK Telecom said it was the only private company taking part. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Under its defense technology brand “T military,” the company displayed the AI staff officer system in the event’s policy promotion hall. According to the company and the tech outlet ZDNet Korea, the system connects and analyzes various data held by the military on a single platform to support commanders’ understanding of a situation and their decisions, using ontology to structure the meaning and relationships between data and digital twin technology to reproduce the battlefield in a virtual space. SK Telecom said visitors and military officials could see the process from data collection and analysis through digital twin-based battlefield representation to decision support. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The company also presented a communications and security architecture for AI-based combat systems. It said it would secure connectivity via low-earth-orbit satellites in areas where ground communications infrastructure is hard to use, and strengthen security by combining quantum encryption and stealth Wi-Fi — grouping satellite, wired and wireless networks and security into a single battlefield communications system for AI, drones and robots exchanging information in real time. [ 2 , 3 ]
ZDNet Korea reported that the exhibit is aligned with the Army’s “Army Tiger Plus” future combat program, which integrates AI data, drones and counter-drone systems, robots, and cyber and electronic capabilities into Army combat power. The other documents do not mention the program. [ 2 ]
SK Telecom said it worked with partners including SK Link, TechTree Innovation, Enhance, Mercury, KCS and Pablo Air for the exhibition, and plans to combine AI, satellite, network and security technologies from partners into forms that can be applied in actual operational environments. [ 2 , 3 ]
“On future battlefields, AI that rapidly analyzes vast amounts of information to support decision-making, and the stable and secure communications infrastructure that supports it, will become even more important,” Kim Gu-young, head of SK Telecom’s Enterprise Business Division, said, according to the two outlets that carried the remark. He added that the company would develop its AI and communications technology into solutions optimized for defense settings and actively expand its defense AX business. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The exhibition places a major mobile carrier inside the Army’s push to integrate AI, drones and robots into its future combat systems, a market SK Telecom said it wants to expand into. For readers outside Korea, it shows how commercial AI, satellite and quantum-encryption technology is being pitched for military use by a civilian telecom operator. The documents do not describe any contract, procurement decision or deployment beyond the demonstration.
Key facts
- SK Telecom exhibited at the 2026 Ground Forces Festival, held Oct. 1–5 at the Gyeryongdae runway in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong, organized by Army Headquarters. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The company said it was the only private company participating in the event. [ 2 , 3 ]
- It presented an AI operations-support system called “AI staff officer,” which links and analyzes military data to support commanders’ situational awareness and tactical decisions, using ontology and digital twin technology. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- SK Telecom also showed low-earth-orbit satellite communications, quantum encryption and stealth Wi-Fi as a combined battlefield communications and security system. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The exhibit ran under SK Telecom’s defense technology brand “T military.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Partners in the exhibition included SK Link, TechTree Innovation, Enhance, Mercury, KCS and Pablo Air. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Kim Gu-young, head of SK Telecom’s Enterprise Business Division, said AI for fast analysis and stable, secure communications infrastructure will become more important on future battlefields, and that the company will expand its defense AX business. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- SK Telecom took part in the 2026 Ground Forces Festival, held Oct. 1–5 at the Gyeryongdae runway in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong, and run by Army Headquarters. [ 2 , 3 ]
- SK Telecom said it was the only private company participating. [ 2 , 3 ]
- SK Telecom exhibited an AI operations-support system called “AI staff officer” under its “T military” defense brand. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The company also showed low-earth-orbit satellite communications and security technology including quantum encryption and stealth Wi-Fi. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim Gu-young of SK Telecom’s Enterprise Business Division said the company would expand its defense AX business and lead what he described as the country’s future defense innovation. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Partner companies including SK Link, TechTree Innovation, Enhance, Mercury, KCS and Pablo Air took part in the exhibition. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the “AI staff officer” system is in operational use or was shown only as a demonstration. The documents say SK Telecom exhibited and demonstrated the system and describe plans to expand the business, but do not state any deployment, contract or procurement outcome.
- How the system relates to the Army’s “Army Tiger Plus” future combat program. Only one document draws the link, describing the exhibition as aligned with the program rather than part of a confirmed project.
- The scope of any defense contracts or future sales for SK Telecom. The company stated an intention to expand its defense AX business, but no figures, agreements or customer commitments appear in the documents.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The 2026 Ground Forces Festival opens at the Gyeryongdae runway in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The festival closes after five days; SK Telecom has exhibited its “T military” services. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports SK Telecom’s defense AI exhibition and expansion plans. [ 1 ]
- ZDNet Korea publishes a detailed account of the “AI staff officer,” satellite and security technologies shown. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports the exhibition and Kim Gu-young’s remarks. [ 3 ]