[Forbes Korea] From Infrastructure to the Battlefield: Nearthlab’s Leap into Defense Drones

Founded on autonomous flight technology, Nearthlab has made a remarkable transition from inspecting wind turbines to becoming a global force in defense drone innovation. CEO Jay Choi emphasizes that this evolution wasn’t just about business. It was about mission. “We hope our technology and story will inspire the next generation,” he says.

Just two years ago, Nearthlab was recognized mainly for its drone software used in renewable energy inspections. Fast forward, and the company has been named one of the “Top 100 Global Defense Drone Companies,” a rare recognition for a Korean company. The key to this rapid ascent lies in Nearthlab’s deep expertise in vision-based AI flight systems, which allow drones to operate with extreme precision even at high speeds and without expensive sensors.

KAiDEN & XAiDEN: A New Standard in Autonomous Weaponry

At the core of Nearthlab’s defense portfolio are two groundbreaking systems: KAiDEN, a high-speed kinetic interceptor, and XAiDEN, a loitering munition capable of swarm operations. KAiDEN was developed in response to modern battlefield needs, particularly the rise of low-cost drone threats, as seen in the Ukraine conflict. Unlike traditional countermeasures like missiles or jamming systems, KAiDEN uses camera-only vision AI to lock on and destroy enemy drones while flying at speeds of up to 250 km/h (about 155 mph), offering a low-cost, high-precision alternative.

XAiDEN, unveiled in 2025, was designed for ground-based missions. It supports payload delivery, swarm deployment, and autonomous operations. One launcher can stack and deploy up to 10 drones, enabling fast mobilization with minimal personnel. This dramatically reduces the total cost of operation, not just the price of the drone, but also human and logistical overhead on the battlefield.

Integrated Systems, Not Just Drones

What truly sets Nearthlab apart is its full-stack approach. The company doesn’t just build drones. It builds entire mission-ready systems. From vision-based AI software to flight control algorithms and rugged, deployable hardware, every component is developed to work seamlessly. Jay Choi notes that Nearthlab has worked closely with defense partners from the beginning to ensure interoperability with existing systems, survivability in harsh conditions, and alignment with procurement protocols. “We provide not just the drone, but the entire ecosystem behind it,” he adds.

Defense Recognition and Global Reach

Nearthlab’s dual innovation in civilian and military drone technology has not gone unnoticed. In 2025, it became the first company to receive simultaneous commendations from both the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of National Defense in Korea. While domestic interest is growing, the company’s business is already global in scale, over 80% of its revenue comes from overseas. Countries in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and North America are adopting Nearthlab’s systems faster than in Korea, where military procurement is typically more conservative.

Strategic Evolution: From Software to Full-Stack Hardware

The company’s success can be traced back to two pivotal decisions. First, when entering the wind power market, Nearthlab chose to focus exclusively on drone software, outsourcing hardware to external partners. This clarified its identity as a vision-AI powerhouse. Then, 5 years later, came a second, bold decision: to build its own drone hardware in-house. The need for tighter software-hardware integration, especially for complex defense operations, led to the development of KAiDEN and XAiDEN. Although this shift posed significant challenges for a startup, Nearthlab proved its capabilities with successful deployment of fully in-house systems.

The Road Ahead

Looking forward, Jay Choi sees two major directions in defense drone evolution. First, AI-powered swarm operations will become mainstream, where one operator controls multiple drones with minimal input. Second, the ability to mass-deploy inexpensive, effective drones will define the future of military power. These trends will require not only AI sophistication but also deep synergy between software and hardware, precisely what Nearthlab is building.

Choi envisions a legacy that transcends markets and technology. “When I visited the NASA museum as a child, I was deeply moved by what human ingenuity could achieve. That feeling stayed with me. I hope Nearthlab’s journey can inspire that same sense of wonder in future generations.”