LIG D&A and GMO Cybersecurity by Ierae Partner to Secure Space and Unmanned Systems
The collaboration integrates five decades of defense manufacturing with elite offensive security to protect LEO satellites and physical AI.
LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) and Japanese security firm GMO Cybersecurity by Ierae have entered a strategic partnership to harden the cybersecurity of unmanned systems and space assets. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on July 22, 2026, to develop advanced security evaluation and diagnostic technologies.
The partnership specifically targets the protection of drones, physical AI-based unmanned systems, and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications. By combining LIG D&A’s 50 years of experience in weapon system development with Ierae’s specialized "attacker-perspective" security expertise, the collaboration aims to identify and neutralize vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in the field. According to Hikohiro Rin, CGO of Ierae, the goal is to accelerate R&D speed by concentrating the unrivaled technological capabilities of both organizations.
The Offensive Security Edge
This alliance brings together two distinct industrial strengths. LIG D&A is a cornerstone of South Korea's defense industry, providing the deep manufacturing and aerospace engineering required for modern warfare. Ierae, conversely, is a Japanese firm composed of white-hat hackers known for high-level offensive security capabilities. The firm's technical pedigree is evidenced by its record at DEF CON, where it was the first Asian company to participate in the "Aerospace Village" and has ranked first globally for three consecutive years in the DEF CON Cloud Village CTF.
A Critical Shift in Defense
The move reflects a broader transition in global defense strategy, where the shift toward unmanned platforms and space-based assets has changed the nature of risk. As these systems integrate physical AI and LEO satellites, cybersecurity is no longer a secondary feature but a primary requirement for operational viability. Lee Seung-young, Head of Technology Innovation at LIG D&A, noted that as physical AI unmanned systems expand across land, sea, air, and space, cybersecurity has become a "core element of survival, not a choice."
Establishing Global Standards
By integrating industrial defense manufacturing with elite offensive testing, the partnership seeks to establish a new global standard for unmanned system security. The collaboration is expected to move beyond simple patching, focusing instead on comprehensive diagnostic technologies that can withstand sophisticated cyberattacks. Observers will be watching for the first concrete implementations of these security frameworks in upcoming LEO satellite deployments and AI-driven drone fleets, as the industry moves toward a more resilient, software-defined defense architecture.