Drones Are Changing the Battlefield... Nexwill's Electronic Warfare and Radar Technologies in the Spotlight

Following the Russia-Ukraine war and now the outbreak of war involving Iran, it has become increasingly apparent that the nature of modern warfare is shifting toward electronic warfare. While traditional battlefields relied on expensive fighter jets and missiles, drones and unmanned aerial vehicles have now emerged as key assets. In tandem, jammers (devices for radio interference) and next-generation radar systems are playing pivotal roles, rapidly transforming the paradigm of the battlefield.

K-Defense is enjoying unprecedented export success amid these changes. While major defense conglomerates typically claim the spotlight with each large-scale export contract, the reality is that numerous small and medium-sized defense companies, equipped with core technologies, are underpinning this success. Among these is Nexwill, a defense electronics specialist based in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. Since its establishment in 2005, Nexwill has accumulated technological expertise through over 20 years of research and development, forging partnerships with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and leading defense conglomerates.

Seo Wonki, CEO of Nexwil, explained the process of inspecting the performance of electronic circuit boards (PCBs) at the Nexwil factory in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon on the 30th of last month. Innobiz Association

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Nexwill's business is centered around two main pillars: the defense sector, focusing on electronic warfare and radar, and the civilian sector, supplying 5G and 6G communications equipment. The company is especially renowned for its unrivaled technological capabilities in the defense sector.

At a press conference hosted by the Innobiz Association (Korea Association of Innovative Small and Medium Businesses) on March 30, CEO Seowon Ki stated, "Nexwill is a company with a solid foundation, having grown primarily through national technology development projects over a long period. We aim to leverage this accumulated know-how to promote Korean technology in overseas markets and contribute to the Korean economy through our proprietary products."

CEO Ki emphasized, "Rather than engaging in saturated businesses that everyone else is pursuing, my philosophy is to focus on new technology-based ventures that, though technically challenging, offer a sense of purpose and value." His confidence stems from Nexwill's strength in "technological internalization." Electronic warfare equipment requires a combination of digital RF (radio frequency), hardware, software, signal processing, and system integration technologies. CEO Ki explained, "We invest more than 7% of our annual revenue in R&D, and as we possess all the key related technologies, we do not rely on outsourcing for major development projects."

Nexwill products displayed at the Nexwill headquarters in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. Photo by Ho-Kyung Choi

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This ability to internalize technology has led to the optimization of 'SWaP+C' (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost), a core requirement in both defense and embedded systems today. Notably, Nexwill was the first in Korea to develop and commercialize a jammer designed for deployment on small unmanned aerial vehicles. While conventional jammers broadcast signals indiscriminately over a broad frequency range, Nexwill’s jammer employs “reactive jamming” technology, detecting threats first and then selectively countering only in the necessary areas. The company also possesses anti-jamming technologies to prevent enemy interference.

Nexwill is also producing results in the radar sector. Radar has recently become a key revenue source for the company. Nexwill supplies transmitter-receiver control modules for the Cheongung-II radar system, which was deployed for the first time in combat in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in connection with the Iran conflict. Cheongung-II is a medium-range surface-to-air interceptor missile system developed by Korea.

Recently, Nexwill has been collaborating with major defense conglomerates to develop “active protection radars” for ground weapon systems such as tanks. With the increasing number of tanks being neutralized by drone attacks, the demand for radar systems capable of real-time detection of close-range threats is growing. Nexwill is currently responsible for developing the critical transmitter-receiver modules for these radars. In addition, the company is effectively the sole supplier of testing equipment used to verify the performance of the modules it delivers, generating related revenue streams.

Seowon Ki, CEO of Nexwill, explained the module testing equipment at the Nexwill factory in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon on the 30th of last month. Innobiz Association

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Nexwill is simultaneously pursuing technological advancement and business expansion to meet the rising global demand for defense products. The increasing importance of air defense systems to protect national strategic assets-such as oil production facilities in the Middle East-is being seen as a new opportunity for the company. Nexwill is targeting annual sales of around 30 billion won this year. CEO Ki stated, "By leveraging our fusion technologies based on digital RF, we will secure competitiveness in electronic warfare and radar, responding to next-generation battlefield environments and driving innovation in K-Defense."

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