The Motor Tech Sale and the Drone Intrusion
Upon arriving back in Korea, Taesik immediately requested that Roman, the head of the motor research lab, send over the specifications and introductory materials for the automotive motor technology they had been developing. Once he had them, he sent out emails to automobile manufacturers across the globe, offering the technology for sale. Surprisingly, there was a great deal of interest in the axial flux motor technology that had been under research at M-RAX, with European firms showing particularly high enthusiasm.
Taesik sent out a proposal stating that the minimum bid was $100 million and that he would sell to the highest bidder. However, each company contacted him asking for a meeting without mentioning a specific price. "Miso, is there really no company that has offered a price?"
"No. Most of them are asking to meet in person to negotiate the price. I'm not sure if they're colluding behind our backs. Usually, if they need it, they make an offer... and if it were useless technology, it would be common sense for them not to contact us at all."
"What did Roman say?"
"He's bewildered that we're trying to sell the motor technology for $100 million when we acquired the entire company for $10 million. Also, they've requested the entirety of the cooling technology you applied to it."
Taesik had upgraded the existing motor technology by applying the cooling systems used in AESA Radar, reducing the motor's weight to a level just shy of the electric motor technology used by Edison Motors. "Motor output is important, but reducing the weight is what truly improves performance. I'll send the technical data to Roman myself."
"Representative, should I schedule meetings with the companies hoping to purchase it?"
"Is there any need to meet them? Since they might be colluding, let's set a deadline for those who want to negotiate and tell them we will sell the technology to whoever makes the best offer by that date."
"Understood. I'll take care of it right away."
Shortly after, Taesik received a call from Executive Director Jung Jae-hoon of Dae-A Motors. "Representative Kim! About that axial flux motor Starlink is selling—are there any companies hoping to buy it?"
"Several have asked to negotiate, but why waste time? I'm planning to sell to the company that submits the final price by the end of this week. Dae-A Motors submitted a proposal, too—do you intend to make a final offer?"
"That's actually why I called. Could you spare some time this afternoon?"
"Of course. I'm available anytime. Should I come to you, or will you come here?"
"I'll head over. It's been a while, so I'll take the chance to see the Starlink headquarters as well."
Executive Director Jung Jae-hoon appeared in the afternoon. As he was about to enter Taesik's office, he spotted Miso and looked surprised. "Miso! I heard you were back in Korea, but you were working here?"
"Oppa! It's been a while. I'm learning how to build new businesses here."
"Don't tell me your father opposed you starting at an affiliate?"
"No. It's my father's will."
"Hmm... is that so? Let's see each other at the next gathering."
After exchanging greetings with Miso, Executive Director Jung entered Taesik's office. He looked at the tea and refreshments Miso had brought in and opened the conversation. "Representative Kim. It seems you have a close relationship with Chairman Lee Hyundo of the Misung Group. Or rather, is it at the level of a business partner?"
"Are you asking because of Miso?"
Taesik explained his relationship with the Misung Group, detailing the mobile processor and secondary battery projects he had conducted with Chairman Lee Hyundo. "I'll have to be careful when dealing with Starlink from now on..." Watching Executive Director Jung lost in thought, Taesik brought up the main topic.
"More importantly, do you have any intention of purchasing the axial flux motor technology?"
"Yes. Dae-A Motors is currently targeting both hydrogen and electric vehicles as power sources for our automotive business. In the current situation, we don't know which method will have the upper hand, so we are conducting research and development on both simultaneously. We have our own axial flux motor under development, but our internal analysis shows it still lags behind in terms of torque and weight."
"It seems you're thinking of a 'second-place' strategy rather than being a pioneer."
"I'm ashamed to say it, but that's correct. We're planning a strategy to follow whichever side gains the advantage as we watch future trends."
"Then, let's get to the point. I'm thinking of a minimum bid of $100 million, based on the highest bid. How much were you thinking of when you came here?"
"Are there any companies that have entered a bid so far?"
"Hahaha. Are you asking me to show my hand already?"
"From a company's perspective, isn't it good to save even a penny? Have there been contacts from other companies?"
"To give you the conclusion, everyone is showing interest, but no one has proposed a price yet. I intend to wait for final answers until the end of this week."
"Then I'll pay $100 million right now, so let's sign the contract immediately!"
"Hahaha. Who would respond if I just accepted the minimum bid?"
"..."
"I will wait until the end of this week to sign. Since the axial flux motor technology is in its early stages, it won't be easy to purchase such technology."
"I understand. How about $110 million? Instead, we sign immediately. Wouldn't it be better to sign right now than to wait for the bidding results until the end of the week?"
"..."
"Fine. $120 million is the max. Are you interested?"
"Understood. Let's go with that price. However, there is one condition."
"What is it?"
"Starlink Aviation recently developed a maneuver helicopter. Please purchase one of those helicopters for Dae-A Motors. We'll supply them to the military, but breaking into the civilian market is proving harder than I thought."
"So you're planning to use Dae-A Motors to break into the civilian market. Fine! Our current helicopters are aging anyway, so we do need new ones!"
After Executive Director Jung Jae-hoon coolly purchased the axial flux motor technology along with one maneuver helicopter and left the office, Miso walked in with a smile. "Representative, how did it go?"
"We agreed on $120 million. Use the sales proceeds for the research and development funds needed for the UAM business."
"Hohoho. Thanks to Dae-A Motors, we've earned our R&D funds."
While research and development were underway for the UAM business following the sale of the axial flux motor technology, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense was under heavy fire from the media due to aerial vehicles flying in from North Korea. A hiker in Paju, Gyeonggi-do, had discovered an unidentified drone and reported it to the police. Subsequently, drones were discovered in Baengnyeongdo, Samcheok, and Inje, and the media was flooded with articles speculating that North Korea had launched drones to conduct reconnaissance on South Korea. The media compared the discovered North Korean drones with South Korean ones, publishing analysis articles stating that while the technology was still at a beginner level, Seoul could be in danger if the drones were equipped with bombs or chemical weapons, and criticizing the Ministry of National Defense for failing to detect and shoot them down in advance.
Since the Ministry of National Defense lacked the capability to analyze the North Korean drones themselves, they requested that Starlink analyze the airframes presumed to be of North Korean origin, so Taesik headed to Starlink Aviation. At Starlink Aviation, soldiers with guns were guarding the warehouse building, and Starlink Aviation and Defense engineers capable of analyzing the drones were disassembling them inside. As Taesik entered the warehouse, an unexpected person was waiting alongside Brigadier General Jang Woo-chul of the Ministry of National Defense.
"Section Chief Choi, what brings you here?"
"Since it's a drone that came over from North Korea, the NIS should also take an interest."
After exchanging greetings with Section Chief Choi, Taesik also greeted Brigadier General Jang Woo-chul. "Congratulations. This is the first time I've seen you since your promotion to General."
"Oh, Representative Kim. Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to get promoted."
Brigadier General Jang Woo-chul had been promoted to General because he had contributed to the strengthening of joint forces by putting the drones developed by Starlink into operation and because he had a broad perspective on future weapons, so he expressed his gratitude to Taesik.
"Have the analysis results come out?"
"Yes. It has been analyzed that they have the same performance as the Switchblade Type A and cardboard drones developed by Starlink Defense."
"So they must be drones that follow designated GPS coordinates."
"Yes. It is presumed that North Korea sent them to take more precise photos than the satellite photos available on the market, so they attached cameras. They were equipped with Japanese cameras on Chinese-made drones, but it's at a beginner level. It was analyzed that they took off from the Onchon Airfield in North Korea with a flight range of 200km."
"Don't tell me it's a product that copied our Switchblade Type A?"
"It appears they copied the design concept of following GPS guidance. There is a more serious problem than that."
"What is it...?"
"The drone's flight altitude is within 3km, making radar detection difficult. It's identified at the level of a small bird, so there's a possibility it won't be caught if it lowers its altitude, and even if the radar catches it, there's no way to shoot it down."
"Wouldn't it be possible to shoot it down if it's an Apache or the KA1 low-speed control aircraft we supplied?"
"In normal cases, yes. Looking at the drone's trajectory, it's flying down along the Han River and focusing on filming the Yongsan and Blue House areas within the city, but the problem is that there is a city center below."
"Ah...! I guess shooting is impossible because of citizen safety."
"Yes. It's a problem because if machine gun or rocket fragments fall into the city center, there's a possibility that citizens could get hurt."
"Can't the anti-drone guns currently being researched solve the problem?"
"Unfortunately, the range of the anti-drone gun is only a maximum of 2km. Unless the drone is directly above the anti-drone gun, there is no way to shoot it down."
"It's a problem because we have weapons to shoot it down, but we can't use them because of citizen safety."
"Yes. For now, this North Korean drone analysis report needs to include everything from detection to how to shoot it down... but a solution isn't easy."
"...Is there a limit to the research and development budget?"
"Do you have an idea? Considering the media currently attacking the Ministry of National Defense, I think there will be no limit to the R&D budget."
"Then, if we develop a fixed long-range radar based on the GaN technology used in AESA Radar, it seems drone detection will be possible."
"Then we'll be penetrated by drones until the new radar is developed..."
"That can be detected by temporarily modifying the S/W of the existing deployed radar. Unlike birds, drones have no choice but to fly in a straight line, so I think we should modify the S/W to display small objects that fly in a straight line for more than a few seconds on the radar. However, since there may be a problem in terms of accuracy, it is necessary to develop a new radar."
"Ah...! We'll have to test if actual detection is possible. By any chance, is there a way to shoot down the drone while considering citizen safety?"
"As far as I know, there seems to be only one way. There is no answer other than an air defense weapon system using a high-output laser. The current laser-based air defense weapon system has a range of less than 2km, so we need to increase the output further."
"You're talking about the weapon system that the US is developing as a new technology. Would it be possible with domestic technology?"
"For now, the detection part has secured the technology, and we only need to develop the laser part."
"By any chance, could you send me the detailed technical data? I need to attach the analysis report to this report."
After the two finished their conversation, Section Chief Choi smiled and spoke up. "I also have to report to the Director, so I ask for an explanation of the GPS coordinates set in the North Korean drone."
Taesik called an employee and gave instructions to extract the GPS coordinate values from the S/W in the drone, and began to examine the North Korean drone.