Partnership to drive joint defense programs and next-generation technology planning MakinaRocks’ AI OS ‘Runway’ to accelerate deployment in classified, air-gapped environments 

SEOUL, South Korea, April 14, 2026 — MakinaRocks, a physical AI company, today announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) to collaborate on defense artificial intelligence initiatives. 

The agreement, signed on April 9, establishes a framework for cooperation across key areas, including participation in defense AI programs, joint planning of core technology initiatives, joint research and academic engagement, and the exchange of personnel and technical expertise. The two companies will work closely to develop and execute AI-driven defense capabilities.

MakinaRocks is the only company among South Korea’s “Defense Innovation Companies 100,” designated by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), to operate a proprietary AI platform. Its AI operating system, Runway, supports the full lifecycle of AI development and deployment — spanning DataOps, MLOps, and LLMOps — and is optimized for air-gapped, high-security environments typical of military operations. Building on this foundation, MakinaRocks has expanded its presence in defense AI through collaborations with organizations including the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement (KRIT), and the Republic of Korea Navy’s 1st Fleet Command.

“This partnership marks an important step toward accelerating the intelligent transformation of defense systems,” said Yonghwa Shin, Senior Vice President of Future Warfare Business Division at LIG D&A. “By combining LIG’s defense domain expertise with MakinaRocks’ AI capabilities, we aim to develop next-generation solutions that address the complexity and uncertainty of future battlefields.” 

Andre S. Yoon, CEO of MakinaRocks, emphasized the company’s experience in mission-critical environments: “Defense operations share many characteristics with industrial environments — both require real-time decision-making under constrained and often disconnected conditions. By integrating our AI technologies with LIG’s domain expertise, we aim to advance intelligent defense systems and contribute to strengthening national defense capabilities.”