South Korea has begun a major overhaul of the joint command-and-control (C2) system it operates with the United States, embedding artificial intelligence to enhance how allied forces plan and conduct operations on the Korean Peninsula.
Hanwha Systems, selected as prime contractor in December 2025, is leading the modernization of the Allied Korea Joint Command and Control System (AKJCCS) in coordination with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The upgraded system is expected to be fielded by 2029.
Enhancements will include AI-driven situational awareness, automated decision-support tools, cloud-based servers, and virtual desktop infrastructure aimed at accelerating information sharing and command decisions. The upgrade will also introduce real-time translation, secure teleconferencing, and strengthened cybersecurity measures to improve coordination between South Korean and U.S. forces in a rapidly evolving operational environment.
The AKJCCS modernization supports Seoul’s long-standing objective of regaining wartime operational control (OPCON) from the U.S.-led Combined Forces Command by 2030. While the upgrade does not indicate an immediate transfer of authority, it addresses a key U.S. prerequisite for OPCON transition: demonstrated robustness in command-and-control capabilities.
First deployed in 2015, AKJCCS is directly linked to the U.S. CENTRIXS-K network and serves as the central hub for allied operational information. By 2029, South Korea aims to operate an AI-enabled C2 platform capable of faster data fusion, automated decision support, and more effective execution of combined operations. Once completed, it will be the country’s first domestically developed C2 system to integrate AI-based situational analysis and decision-making tools.
